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We Need To Talk About Kevin Clips: Prepare To Be Absolutely Destroyed

By TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (39)

We-Need-To-Talk-About-Kevin.jpg

I don’t know how this movie slipped past me for this long. It’s got a monster of a cast — John C. Reilly, Tilda Swinton and what looks to be a hell of a new actor in young Ezra Miller as the titular Kevin. The story is hard to even type out — to sit through it seems like it’ll be an endurance test, and I say that in the very best way because it looks like it could be phenomenal.

The film focuses on a mother (Swinton) trying to deal with her life and the lives around her in the aftermath of a school shooting spree — perpetrated by her son. Reilly plays her estranged husband, and Miller plays Kevin, who has killed 9 people. The concept is stomach-turning and chilling and scary and affecting, something that every parent must dread to even contemplate. It’s based on the novel by Lionel Shriver, and directed by Lynne Ramsay. Our very own MelBivDevoe reviewed the book — please read it here. It looks pretty intense.

While there’s no trailer yet, oddly, there are a few clips that have come out. It’s showing at Cannes, and is expected to do quite well. I can see why. Here are the clips, most of which take place before the actual shooting. They’re all good, but the final two are what sold me on it.





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Comments

SWINTON! Thanks TM, this looks great. I love Lumber Ramsay, so I think this'll be really quite brilliant.

Posted by: Caspar at May 12, 2011 10:37 AM

There's a review up from The Guardian;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/12/cannes-we-need-talk-about-kevin-review

Sounds amazing but gruelling......

Posted by: Alex the not so odd at May 12, 2011 10:39 AM

TM? FFS. TK.

Posted by: Caspar at May 12, 2011 10:45 AM

wow..

Mesmerizing.

Posted by: Magiel at May 12, 2011 10:45 AM

There's another movie coming out with a similar plot called Beautiful Boy. Looks good too. Mario Bello and Michael Sheen: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/beautifulboy

Posted by: Mel C. at May 12, 2011 10:52 AM

Maria Bello vs. Tilda Swinton.

Discuss.

Posted by: , at May 12, 2011 10:59 AM

That looks tough but good. I can definitely relate to that first clip. No I didn't throw the baby against the wall.

Posted by: admin at May 12, 2011 11:08 AM

After the first clip, I was like, well...I suppose this clip is funny bc babies are the freaking worst and yet somehow, so many people still go on to be parents. So it's funny, you know...bc the baby is...eating her soul?

But then I just realized that everything this movie deals with looks like it's going to be the worst (in terms of content). I don't normally shy away from films just bc I find the content upsetting or difficult, but I suspect I'll be putting this one off until a particularly masochistic day rolls around.

Life's far too precious to have the wretched, shrill death-caw of a baby's incessant crying echoing inside of your head for any length of time.

Posted by: beet salad at May 12, 2011 11:10 AM

Damn it. I can't see the clips. This sounds intriguingly horrifying.

Posted by: Paultera at May 12, 2011 11:15 AM

Also , :

Swinton vs. Bello?

Maria (was in Grown Ups, played the wife of Kevin James, and a mother who still breast feeds her 5 year old son) Bello?!?

I just...that woman...I just can't.

Posted by: beet salad at May 12, 2011 11:24 AM

beet salad, seriously...run the fuck away from this book, and, I imagine, this movie. Bleak doesn't remotely begin to describe it. I read it and wish I hadn't. Sentimental I am not, but life IS far too precious to waste your time on something this unrelentingly unpleasant. Some interpreted it as social commentary, psychological profile/case study, etc., but I'd argue against any alledged redeeming value, knee-jerk as that sounds. If one was ever put into such a situation, there is nothing in the world that could be helpful, and no one with whom to commiserate, and no need for commentary of any sort anyway. It's tabloid-esque to some degree (though well-written enough, and *presumably* not intended that way).
If for some reason you feel compelled to read, avoid the "book group guide" or author interview or whatever it is. It made me even sicker. Further comment on that would probably be just a personal attack, which is pretty inappropriate; I mention it only to note: nothing to see there, either, folks.
Rarely - if ever - have I had this strong a reaction to a book, which probably means it did its job effectively, but - just, NO.

Posted by: JL at May 12, 2011 11:32 AM

The book is incessantly brutal and compelling. To beet salad: You might be taking the clip out of context, which is understandable. Much of the conflict of the book stems from Tilda Swinton's character grappling with her degree of culpability for Kevin's (at the time of the clip, the baby) violence. She's ambivalent about her pregnancy from the start, and despite her best efforts, can't seem to bond with a very difficult baby. She spends the length of the novel wondering whether her son was more or less born damaged or if the failure is her own. It is gripping; a must read. Not sure I could stomach a movie, though, knowing what I'd have to go through again.

Posted by: Chris at May 12, 2011 11:41 AM

Michael Sheen > John C. Reilly though.

Posted by: Mel C. at May 12, 2011 11:42 AM

This sort of reminds me of a movie that had one of the best trailers I've ever seen, but was ultimately such a letdown. Anyone else see Joshua?

Posted by: elizabeth at May 12, 2011 11:45 AM

JL nailed it. Stay far away. A prolonged waterboarding session of a book, with a sick twist at the end that renders the whole thing just insultingly manipulative and too horrifying to continue to suspend disbelief. Devastating just for devastating's sake. This movie looks like it will be exactly the same, only you have to watch excellent actors you like perpetrating the torture. Just say no.

I'm sad for myself that I spent those hours of my life reading that book when I could have been looking at flowers, or having sex.

Posted by: heatseeker at May 12, 2011 11:46 AM

No thank you. I have a little boy, he'll be 3 next month. I have always had fears about my son. First, I was afraid I'd lose him when I was pregnant. Then, after he was born, I was afraid there would be any number of horrible things wrong with him. So far, so good on that one. Now, my fears are cancer, kidnapping, and him growing up to be a serial killer. I'm not kidding. I know it's irrational, but it's in there anyway. I try not to think about it, but stuff like this makes it pop up in unpleasant ways. So, as I said, no thank you.

Posted by: Captain Tuttle at May 12, 2011 12:02 PM

This book pretty much destroyed my peace of mind for MONTHS. Then I sadistically handed it over to my sister...just so I could have someone with whom to be miserable. Every now and again, I lie awake, asking myself, "Am I good mother or a bad mother?" and this book seeps into my consciousness and I pretty much just weep.

It's relentless and it will haunt you. Stay away. But on the other hand: You must read it.

Try The Post Birthday World by the same author for something a bit lighter and just as thought provoking.

I will NOT be seeing this movie.

Posted by: klingonfree at May 12, 2011 12:12 PM

I was excited to read this book, because I really enjoyed the author's other book "The Post Birthday World", and when I find a book I like, I usually go ahead and read everything that person has ever written. Plus, at the time one of my friends was dating a guy named Kevin who was maybe kind of a jerk, and I used to snicker to myself that "we need to talk about Kevin".

But this book...I agree with what's been said so far here, that it's a soul-beatdown of epic proportions and will tap into whatever level of fear you have about kids, your own or other people's. The movie seems similar from these clips. Save yourself!

Posted by: Cara at May 12, 2011 12:21 PM

Yeaaaah, I'm with Capt Tuttle on this one. My boy is only 5 months old. I'm not far enough removed from my personal version of that first clip to be able to stomach this movie & also already fear the serial/spree killing possibilities for my offspring thanks to watching too many shitty crime procedurals as it is.

Posted by: JenVegas at May 12, 2011 12:34 PM

I couldn’t bring myself to watch all of the clips. I watched the first one and realised that I don’t want to see a movie like this much less read the book. I’ll read the review, but I don’t want this kind of film to be part of my psyche: I have a list of things I can't unsee or unknow. I have a list of fears for my child. I have no need to see movies or read books that feed either list, or, worse still, their intersection. My own pessimistic imagination and reading the news can supplement my fears in profoundly distressing ways. Yes, yes, different people like different things. Great art can be willing to go places that make us uncomfortable and are potentially profound, but what is the purpose of works like this movie? Or, by extension, other works of art which dwell in this niche? A slice of life? A confirmation, for some people, of the black abyss of reality? Some kind of justification for their own nihilism? Is it a safe place to look into the abyss and be sure it can’t quite look back at you? Is it the catharsis? I don’t get it. I don’t have to get it. And I recognize that it is arrogant of me to feel sad for people who get it, but I do.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at May 12, 2011 1:12 PM

So: is it worse than Requiem for a Dream? Because except for a certain part, I've watched that more than once.

And I've read some books that are absolute beat-downs.

Is this one so defeating because it taps into our fears as parents? (And I agree, that's a particularly horrifying well of fear right there.) Because I'm intrigued, but wary.

Posted by: Snuggiepants at May 12, 2011 1:24 PM

I agree with others that the book is awfully harsh. Nevertheless I'm glad I read it, even though I'm not sure I liked it. You simply can't 'like' a book like this.

But I will say this: the power of the book, I thought, was precisely that you only ever saw the story through his mother's eyes so you never knew if it was her fault - she admits from the get-go she never bonded with her son - or if it's just Kevin. I don't think a movie can convey it that well.

Posted by: Zirze at May 12, 2011 1:37 PM

Oh, I loved this book. I read it while pregnant with my first and positively couldn't put it down. It is a nasty bit of business, but I liked it. Haven't liked her others nearly as much, but Shriver hit the nail on the head with "Kevin."

Posted by: samantha t at May 12, 2011 1:40 PM

Siobhan Fallon in a Tilda Swinton movie? I'm intrigued.

Posted by: Jerry at May 12, 2011 3:11 PM

Well Tilda Swinton really freaks me out but I'll definitely read the book. Kev looks cute too.

Posted by: grace b at May 12, 2011 3:13 PM

Okay parents out there- I take this book as serious as I did the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book series; not at all. It's another book that does little more that be an alarmist about child behavior and hopes to prey upon the fears and insecurities parents have. "This could be YOUR child *thunderclap MWAHAAHAHAHAHA!"

Seriously folks, if you're half as attentive as you claim to be, you have very little to worry about. Most children don't become monsters in the first place and parents who actually pay attention to their children's growth and development usually catch things before they get this far out of hand. Show me a kid who's done something like this, and I'll show you parents that frequently fell down on the job.

Correction: We NEEDED To Talk About Kevin

If they addressed his behavior and how their own behavior affected him instead of burying their heads up their asses they might have been able to stop things before they escalated to this point. Nevermind just Kevin, they ALL could have used a few couch trips.

His super-nova obvious behavior and the alarming incidents that just happened to occur around him could have been attended too if they weren't already so busy being in denial. The kid did everything but wear a sandwich board.

I don't think watching a couple of dunderheaded parents retroactively head-scratch and navel-gaze for two hours is particularly entertaining no matter who's in the cast. Both the book and the movie would be so much shorter if they simply owned up to their parental incompetence in the first place.

**SPOILER AHEAD**

Especially by the time he had "allegedly" disfigured his younger sister. (But maybe he didn't...yeah right) If the parents can't even defend their other child from this little fuckwad, I doubt they'd give a serious shit if he were planning to hurt other people they don't know or care about in the first place.

Posted by: bleujayone at May 12, 2011 4:30 PM

Wow, Tilda Swinton as a gaunt, haunted, cold woman staring into the abyss of life? What a crazy stretch for her!

Posted by: bbmcrae at May 12, 2011 4:36 PM

SWINTON'S still recovering from the blow of losing Fug Madness to Aubrey O'Day in 2009 bbmcrae.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at May 12, 2011 4:47 PM

I'm sure there are excellent performances in there, but anymore, I just don't want to pay $8 to be completely bummed out at the movies. Besides, isn't this kind of a version of "Bad Seed" or those other "kid born bad" flicks? Sounds like it.

Posted by: Slash at May 12, 2011 5:02 PM

the discussion here reminds me of the one that arose when american psycho came out years ago. admittedly this is to a much lesser extent. all the brouhaha over american psycho piqued my interest and i read the book. i was horrified and couldn't put it down. the images haunted my dreams for months and i had to actively NOT think about it because those images seemed seared into my brain. am i glad i read it? yes. why? i don't know. did i recommend american psycho to anyone? hell, no. i told anyone that would listen to stay away. i still do. it's a disgusting and repulsive book.

btw, i now want to read this book and see the movie.

Posted by: splinter at May 12, 2011 5:36 PM

just took a look at the clip and trailer for beautiful boy. the clip was very good. the trailer much less so. the music seems very manipulative. i hope the movie doesn't have a soundtrack like that. it ruins the movie.

all the clips for the kevin movie were without background music. that's the way to go.

Posted by: splinter at May 12, 2011 5:42 PM

I can definitely see how the book would affect a reader who has kids. I don't have any myself, but it does raise a lot of questions about what it means to be a parent, and how much you're responsible for what your children do. Still, I'm a big fan of the author, Lionel Shriver, and I do recommend it along with her other works.

As for the movie? Swinton is an excellent choice for Eva. I will have to look for this one once it comes out.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at May 12, 2011 6:27 PM

SWINTON!


That is all.

Posted by: greer at May 12, 2011 7:28 PM

"I don't think watching a couple of dunderheaded parents retroactively head-scratch and navel-gaze for two hours is particularly entertaining no matter who's in the cast. Both the book and the movie would be so much shorter if they simply owned up to their parental incompetence in the first place."

I actually thought the Dad was far, far more clueless than the Mom about their son. I wanted to slap him upside the head the whole book. She had doubts and confided them to him, and he always turned it on her.

Posted by: samantha t at May 12, 2011 8:32 PM

@samantha: I would have divorced that clueless, inconsiderate man in a heart*beat. He was beyond idiotic. And she claimed to love him so much.

And yes bluejayone, of course these were clueless navel gazers. It does not make the book any less horrible. It makes it MORE horrible.

Posted by: klingonfree at May 12, 2011 8:38 PM

Love the premise, love the clips, need to see the film.

Posted by: Steve at May 12, 2011 8:46 PM

Having not read the book (yet), I have to wonder what exactly you do with a child who is a psychopath? Encourage them to major in business and convince them that hurting others is not in their long-term best interest? What could her character have done differently?

Dammit. Now I'm going to read this and it's going to make me all crazy-like.

Posted by: Tits McGee at May 12, 2011 9:05 PM

@Splinter-with you on the American Psycho analogy. The scene w/ Bateman and the homeless man haunted me for hours and that's just the start of the atrocities. But I got thru it and am glad I did. I don't know why either...the book's an endurance test not just cuz of the violence, but b/c it paints an utterly bleak and irredeemable picture of humanity.

Posted by: stryker1121 at May 12, 2011 10:34 PM

Wait, what? I thought "American Psycho" was a satire.

Posted by: , at May 13, 2011 2:16 AM