A sensitive issue, this. Or a ‘problematic’ one, if you want to go in for all that modern lingo we use when talking about movies like Some Kind of Hate. A movie in which the most talked about scene depicts two young women (one supernaturally undead, the other just the regular sort of not dead) making out via the medium of self-harm.
Perpetually furious and repeatedly abused by both his peers and the adults in his life, volatile metalhead Lincoln is pushed too far one day at school and violently assaults a bully. Sent to a wilderness camp for reprobates, Lincoln doesn’t do a much better job of fitting in there, and soon finds himself picked on by a different set of bullies while a different set of adults shrug their indifference. At least here he has a bad girl cheerleader to keep his spirits up. Oh, and the vengeful ghost Moira, all too willing to dispose of his enemies for him.
Any violence Moira inflicts upon herself is subsequently visited unto those she pursues – so whatever damage she does to herself manifests itself on Lincoln’s enemies’ bodies. This doesn’t stop them from trying to shoot, stab or otherwise fight her off though, resulting in some sort of bizarre self-harm-ception (to borrow a bit more terrible modern speak). It effectively turns self-harm into a superpower, taking all that pain and rage and turning it upon those responsible.
Sensitive issues indeed. Adam Egypt Mortimer trusts his audience to make up their own minds, depicting the topic in a sympathetic light without directly condemning or approving of it. The story resembles an angry, raw A Nightmare on Elm Street or It Follows, its slasher villain immediately effective and memorable, wearing a necklace made of razor blades and constantly crying, like Moaning Myrtle gone bad. Unfortunately, she falls to pieces whenever Sierra McCormick is asked to do any of the heavy lifting. The finale is derailed by flat acting and a script which has her monologuing for lengthy periods of time. Mortimer’s attempts to set her up as the next Freddy Krueger (including post-credits sting) irritate, lingering when we should be concentrating on this film and its story.
A powerful film with resounding themes and a remarkable sense of energy and emotion, Some Kind of Hate will stir up a lot of emotions, positive and negative. Whatever the case, it deserves seeing so one can make up their mind about it first-hand. Trigger warning, by the way.
SOME KIND OF HATE / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR: ADAM EGYPT MORTIMER / SCREENPLAY: BRIAN DELEEUW, ADAM EGYPT MORTIMER / STARRING: MAESTRO HARRELL, GRACE PHIPPS, SPENCER BRESLIN, SIERRA MCCORMICK / RELEASE DATE: TBC
