The Butcher Boy (DVD)

The Butcher Boy (1997) starring Eamonn Owens, Stephen Rea. Disturbing and surreal story of Francis Brady (Owens), young bully in Irish village whose horrific home life is eventually acted out in murderous fashion. The film is imaginative in its use of unreal imagery, including space aliens, an atomic bomb attack on the village, and Sinead O'Connor appearing to Francis as the virgin Mary. But on the emotional level it somehow fails to connect, and ends up as just a string of events that, while interesting, doesn't really move us. Directed by Neil Jordan. The English subtitles really helped me, because everyone spoke in an Irish accent and I would not have been able to follow it without the subtitles. Grade: B-