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SUNDANCE 2007
Joshua
"Joshua" by Zack Roddy
Throughout the many years of filmmaking, there has been an assortment of child villains. To name a few are Damien from The Omen, Rhoda from The Bad Seed, and Henry from The Good Son. But among the most realistic, and the most disturbing, is Joshua, a nine-year-old prodigy from New York City.
The Cairns are a happy upper class New York Family. Brad (Sam Rockwell) is an investment banker on Wall Street, Abby (Vera Farmiga) is a stay at home mom, and Joshua (Jacob Kogan) is their beloved son. When Abby and Brad have their newest child, it is apparent immediately that Joshua is more than a little jealous of the infant's attention. He is livid. When Abby begins to suffer from post partum depression, Joshua spies his opportunity. Already a child prodigy, and aspiring concert pianist, Joshua has more than a few tricks up his sleeve to tear his family to the breaking point.
Directed and co-written by George Ratliff, Joshua is a vastly entertaining and superbly done psychological thriller. But one of the more interesting aspects of the film was the director's brilliant decision to include elements of black comedy into the script, relieving the audience throughout scenes of pulse pounding tension. Another brilliant decision of the director's was his choice of cast. Rockwell and Farmiga are both exceptional in embodying their characters, and newcomer Kogan as Joshua can give the camera just one emotionless smile for the audience to feel chills.
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