Take Me to the River

"I found a great explanation of this movie online and it made everything so much clearer for me. I could then appreciate what the movie was really saying after reading the explanation, whereas before I was just left with a feeling of discomfort and confusion after watching it. "

"Just a bad, uncomfortable movie."

"I called out a lot of B.S, and this family's full of it. You really can't own your truth in the South, that's just how it is. Great movie."

"Weird circumstances. Made me feel weird, like eavesdropping on a family during an awkward situation. I don’t know how to feel about this one. Forgive me for asking but is this depiction of ‘chicken fighting’ something some people do? I mean, I suppose so… "

"One of the weirdest movies ever. "

"One of the interesting things about this film is that it is multi-layered in that it explores this country's geographic cultural differences and prejudices, child molestation, and internal family politics. The fact that it does all this through the use of flawed and unappealing characters is rather remarkable. In reading some of the previous reviews, it is apparent that large, extended family gatherings are not as prevalent in most areas of the country as in the rural and Plains states. The family reunion serving as the backdrop for this film was quite common when I was growing up in Oklahoma, with extended family members from Colorado, Kansas, and even Washington state traveling "home" to get together with the family they had left on the farms of western Oklahoma. I also recall 2 incidents from my childhood that resulted from "Is your kid right or is it mine?" arose. (Interestingly, both happened when the Texas relatives came back to visit) My issues with the "...River" lie in the abrasiveness of the mother and her son visiting from California. In fairness, they were written that way. On the positive side, the movie leaves one pondering possible resolutions to some of the unanswered questions raised in the film. As for the question "To watch or not to watch?", I lean watch."