Pedophilia in Film

Pedophilia is an issue that leaves most people disgusted to a point that it often does not leave room for a better understanding of why an adult would be sexually attracted to a child. Is this a sickness or just a "sick" person? Pedophilia has been introduced into cinema in several movies. The Woodsman is one that actually attempts to take a look at the tormented pedophile who tries hard to resist his urges. It's a well done and highly recommended movie for psychiatric discussion. Other movies like Little Children portray a pedophile more from the better known, visceral reaction of parents and the public. There are still others that leave some room for interpretation such as Let the Right One In. This is an adaptation of a novel by the same title and there is a recent American version called Let Me In. Let Me In takes a very different direction from this point, but the movie is more open to interpretation. The book is direct but takes a very different view of pedophilia. ~~Spoiler Alert~~ In the book the main character is a vampire who is a child living with a pedophile who collects blood for the vampire in exchange for physical intimacy. The movie does not clearly spell out any of this and it is left open to interpretation as to whether this man was actually a boy when he met the vampire and they have travelled together for decades.

Films can portray this issue well and maintain the view from the public that pedophiles are monsters, because that is how they are viewed by the public. If a movie begins to get inside the head of a pedophile, however, then that requires a more balanced approach to be accurate. Another note that is worth making relates to the books/movies Twilight. In those movies, imprinting between the wolves and others almost takes on a pedophilic description as to why an adult would be imprinted on a child. To complete the discussion, Capturing the Friedmans has to enter the conversation. Pedophile or not, this is a great portrayal of how pedophilia tears apart the family of the accused pedophile. I recommend all of these movies, but if you want to take a look at lesser known aspects of pediophile himself, then watch The Woodsman.

The House of Yes

A must see!! This comedy is dark and intelligent, with Parker Posey at her best (I think she's at her best a lot though). The premise involves a family including a mother, adult fraternal twins (a boy and girl), and another younger son. They are a wealthy family who live down the street from the Kennedy's. It is clear that the children grew up with many advantages, but something just isn't quite right. It becomes quickly apparent that the twin sister is one of those things. Her twin brother is bringing home a fiance' for Thanksgiving, and no one has broken the news to his fragile twin sister; who happens to be in incestuously in love with him.

This movie is a great psychiatry in film movie, especially if you focus on the family dynamics. Look at each relationship to identify the boundaries that have been poorly established. This film is a lesson in looking beyond the identified patient. There seem to be major personality disorders throughout and alleged Axis I problems. If you like dark humor, then you'll find yourself in the floor multiple times.

The Babysitters

Intriguing and entertaining to use a couple of words. In this movie, the premise revolves around a teenage girl who realizes she can make money by prostituting herself and her friends to the fathers of families they babysit for. It's well done and there is some good dark humor throughout. I recommend it and for a psychiatry in film group this may be a good pick. There are the beginnings of a great portrayal of what could be OCD or OCPD, but unfortunately that doesn't go anywhere. (To compare and contrast those two, check out As Good as it Gets and Sleeping with the Enemy).  This movie does provide a great deal of turmoil looking at Erikson's stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion. It sets this common struggle to the back drop of something more sinister or at least unsavory. Also, a major theme is the collision of individuals with  struggling with Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescent girls) and the father's who stunted in the stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation.

This one is a sleeper that most may have slip past them, but it's worth a watch.

The Perfect Host

This is a highly entertaining and intricate film that ironically puts a former TV shrink, David Hyde Pierce, in a role portraying a similar but very different character. It's difficult to adequately review what's so great about the 90 minutes you will invest in this movie, without giving away too many surprises. It's an onion that unpeels itself for the duration. It's thought provoking and surprising with dark humor that will leave you with a smile.

While it's highly recommended, mental health is a major issue for this one. If you haven't seen then movie and want to then STOP HERE and come back after you seen it. ~Spoiler Alert~ Psychosis, although unique to every patient, is seldom seen in organized and highly functioning individuals, especially severe psychosis. While there were several consistencies in this film looking at a partially treated psychotic individual, my biggest hang up was that the character's reality testing was impaired so much yet he was so organized and highly functional in other parts of his life. Given that it was not limited to delusional thinking but also hallucinations this was even more inconsistent. At times, individuals may have such severe personality disorders that their reality testing may come unhinged, but usually not with hallucinations like this.

There are several psychodynamic issues worth exploring, especially in the protagonist's needs and drives for his actions. Because it is such a watchable movie with several flaws in its portrayal of mental illness, The Perfect Host is a Perfect movie for a psychiatry in film night to discuss what's so wrong and so right about this movie.