Mean Creek Essay 1

Descibe an important idea in the text. Explain how verbal and or visual features of the text help you understand.

An important idea in the film Mean Creek directed by Jacob Aaron Estes is revenge. This idea is conveyed through verbal features such as repetition of certain pieces of speech and visual features like extreme close ups and the use of a personal point of view camera. Through the use of these techniques we are able to understand the ideas much more clearly.

Revenge is a reaction to something that somebody does. Throughout this movie revenge is what fuels the plot and becomes the main storyline. It was an intentional action that was planned before it happened and in this case the characters of this movie organized a deed in order to redeem revenge. This action does not normally end nicely.

The idea of revenge was explored by the use of the visual technique of a personal point of view camera used throughout the film. This was used from the start of the film to the end allowing the viewer to have an insight on personal views on an individual character and although most characters were seen through this shot it was mostly Georges view on life that was explored. This technique was used when the actions which caused the revenge occurred and again when the actual revenge plot took place. It helped show us the sense if individual emotions and sense of purpose in relation to the film as many parts of the film which had relevance to revenge was shot like this. An example of this is where at the start of the film Sam is seen to be fiddling with George’s camera and all of a sudden George comes up to Sam, the camera falls to the ground and you are viewer the scene as if you were also on the ground. This then relates to the events leading up to the revenge scene and continues to be used after the plot has taken place looking back on previous events.

This plot of revenge was conveyed quite clearly by the verbal technique of repetition. One scene which shows this technique is when George and the others are on the boat and George finds out about the plot to get back at him. George goes crazy and starts to repeat the sentence “his daddy splatted his brains all over the wall” over and over again. The use of this repetition helps emphasize the anger he is feeling and what happens after this highlights the outcome of revenge which never ends nicely. His repetition of this statement allows the viewer to become aware of his emotions in relation to the planned plot of revenge and shows us the results of a planned reaction to the bullying incident which happened earlier in the movie.

A visual technique which is used in this film is the use of extreme close ups. These are used through most of the film to capture the emotive feel of the characters but they are especially effective when used in order to convey the consequences of revenge. The use of the close ups are helpful as you are able to see all facials of the characters and give the audience the ability to explore further into these ideas that they may be expressing within their own mind in further depth.

These visual and verbal techniques are used to convey the idea of revenge throughout this film Mean Creek. They helped me to understand the sense of feel in relation to the idea of it.