If history has taught us something, it probably is that humanity has hardly learned anything from it. One way or another we all like to think that we are different compared to the people who lived fifty or two hundred years ago. Of course we are partly different, but the basics, the emotions and needs have not changed. You still see that some people who are in a position of power abuse it and sometimes can get away with it as well. Detroit shows events which you can imagine having happened just a week ago.
Detroit, july 1963. After the police takes action against the Afro American community it results in riots in the city. As the police isn’t able to control the situation, the governor decides to call the army in. The situation is tense and when a group of young man who are situated in the Algiers Motel decides to fire some empty rounds at the army, action is taken against them. The police and army go to the hotel and are lead by Philip Krauss (Will Poulter), who is anything but subtle in the way he handles the situation. Tensions rise in which several men and women are forced to answer questions under threat of extreme violence. The situation quickly escalates.
Although Detroit is a drama as it is based on real events, you might as well label this a horror film. The fact this really took place and you realise this could happen to anyone, it is more scary than a movie where a made up monster is terrorising a group of random people. The cops here are monsters, men who in the heat of the moment who forget their education, social norms and the ability to feel sympathy for others. Detroit shows it all, no holds barred. The violence is extreme, which doesn’t always make it easy to watch. But sometimes you have to show the reality of the situation. It is a movie which can lead to discussion an people realising that these things happen. It might cause people to speak up. I don’t think we’ll ever get rid of situations like this, but by talking about them they might be stopped earlier, with consequences that are less extreme.
[score8]
Glad you got to see this one. And yes, it could definitely be labeled a horror film. It’s a film that lends itself to discussion and that’s always a great thing.
Yeah, I saw it with my oldest daughter who was really shocked by it and wasn’t aware things like this happen. Had a good conversation with here about the subject.
Great review of a movie I missed. I don’t remember ANYONE talking about this movie when it came out…why do you think that is???? It had such big names attached to it.
I have no idea why that was either. It’s strange isn’t it?