“Bang Bang You’re Dead” is a very frightening movie for parents of school age kids to watch. It gets its name from a play that was produced back in 1999 in the wake of all of the school shootings that were taking place. This film shows the bizarre correlation between art and life that sometimes pops up. In the film, Ben Foster plays Trevor Adams, a high school student who is constantly picked on and in turn alienates himself from others. The story takes place a year after he threatens to set off a bomb at the school, which as it turns out, was only a threat. He has now been allowed to return to school, only to find things have only gotten worse. Everyone is either wary or afraid of him and the pressure begins to get the best of him. Trevor is befriended by a teacher played by Tom Cavanaugh (TV’s “Ed”) who wants to produce the play “Bang Bang You’re Dead” at the high school. His idea is to cast Trevor as the lead character, a student who is confronted by all the people he killed while on a rampage, in an attempt to help him deal with his pent up and potentially ‘explosive’ rage.

Along the way, Trevor is also approached by a gang called the Trogs. They want him to join their group, and tempt him with opportunities to shoot guns and set off small explosions. He finds himself torn between all those who are trying to help, hinder or influence his decisions. The ‘real life’ events of Trevor’s life and those of the character he is to play in the production run a long a parallel line of unpredictable behavior.

I recommend this movie to anyone who is a parent of kids any age. We’ve had this problem of school violence brewing for years now and here we have a serious look at the effects kids have on each other’s lives. It gives us this look without becoming over dramatic or preachy and chooses to simply set it out there for us to see. “Bang Bang You’re Dead” is rather bleak, but it is not without hope.

I’d actually like to take this recommendation a step further. If you’re parent of children that are getting ready to go to high school I suggest you watch it with them. Granted, it may frighten both them and you a bit, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. There is such a thing as healthy paranoia. Watch the film with your kids, and then talk about it at length with them. Reassure them that if they are having problems at school they can turn to you for help. Help them to understand that they should be aware of other students and how they might be feeling or acting. If anything, perhaps this film might make more parents take direct action by becoming involved in their kid’s school, and do their part to prevent violence from reaching the levels that we’ve seen recently.

“Bang Bang You’re Dead” is being released by Paramount on DVD this month. There are no extra features to speak of which is kind of a shame. I realize the film itself sends pretty strong message, but it might have been a good idea to put together some suggestions on what parents and students can do to help. Or perhaps they might have shown some news clips of actual events to drive the reality of the situation home.

I hesitate to say that “Bang Bang You’re Dead” is an important movie, only because that kind of label tends to turn people away. They want entertainment, not education. If that’s all you’re looking for, the actor’s performances and the storyline alone make the movie worth watching. But if you want the opportunity to see what your kids might be experiencing at high school, you will certainly find it here.

Directed by: Guy Ferland
Starring: Ben Foster, Tom Cavanaugh,
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital Stereo
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 1/27/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Bang Bang You're Dead a B.