This movie isn't just sad, it's cruel. You're watching the entire film, entranced by the transformation of Derek Vinyard (played to perfection by Edward Norton, who has never been better than he is here) from intelligent teenager to violent skinhead to a reformed man haunted by the mistakes he's made. Towards the end, the audience is probably feeling a much needed sense of catharsis. And why not? We've heard all of Derek's story, how he turned his life around and unlearned all of the neo-Nazi propaganda that he had been taught, and we're feeling pretty good about his little brother Danny's chances of avoiding the same mistakes. Together, they take down all the Nazi paraphernalia in the room, and eventually they're left with an empty wall - a blank slate. But the next morning, Danny heads to school...and is gunned down in the bathroom by an African-American student he had crossed paths with the day before. While Derek is cradling his brother's lifeless body, we're struck with the realisation that he's going to have to make another difficult decision: whether or not to choose hate. It feels like a sucker punch, an unfair twist. Because that's exactly what it is. A young life cut brutally and pointlessly short.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
