This film, about the impact of a childhood devoid of everything most of us take for granted and replaced with violent, sexual and mental abuse; neglect and loneliness; betrayal; the ultimate level of insecurity and instability; and most of all the lack of hope or knowledge of anything better or a way out, has to be seen.

The boy's, Jeremiah, torment is excellently portrayed by Jimmy Bennet and Dylan and Cole Sprouse. Argento also gives an intriguing performance as his derranged mother, as do a number of the sideline characters, mostly playing the various sexual partners of Jeremiah's mother.

The boy goes through it all and, essentially, this is conveyed through a haphazard mirage of various equally traumatising events, with little seeming to adjoin them. This is both a strength and a flaw; it shows the way childhood can be viewed through the eyes of the future, the child grown-up. However, it lacks the emotional attachment and clarity that might come from viewing it… more »

This film, about the impact of a childhood devoid of everything most of us take for granted and replaced with violent, sexual and mental abuse; neglect and loneliness; betrayal; the ultimate level of insecurity and instability; and most of all the lack of hope or knowledge of anything better or a way out, has to be seen.

The boy's, Jeremiah, torment is excellently portrayed by Jimmy Bennet and Dylan and Cole Sprouse. Argento also gives an intriguing performance as his derranged mother, as do a number of the sideline characters, mostly playing the various sexual partners of Jeremiah's mother.

The boy goes through it all and, essentially, this is conveyed through a haphazard mirage of various equally traumatising events, with little seeming to adjoin them. This is both a strength and a flaw; it shows the way childhood can be viewed through the eyes of the future, the child grown-up. However, it lacks the emotional attachment and clarity that might come from viewing it through the eyes of the child as he was. Nonetheless, the film is bound to evoke a series of strong emotions and reactions in you as you watch; you are watching a little boy suffer, and greatly.

At times difficult to watch and at others confusing but perhaps this maintains a sense of reality and a more realistic approach to memory than most films do.

Big argument over whether it's true or not; you'll have to check the net to find out for yourself.

Regardless of everything, this film should be watched