William

Held my interest but in the end what a disappoinment..such is life

A very interesting movie.. I'm not much into anthropology. But if does touch some anthropological discussions in a very subtle but thought provoking way. The director laid out the premise very well but then had to squeeze the rest with a 100 minute time limitation in mind while not forgetting to add some relational issues into the mix. As for the ending, it would have probably be different if the story was set in any other country than US. Can you imagine why??

I generally agree with the other reviewers, there's so much wrong with this movie, however they got one aspect right, for me anyway. I'm Aspergic, and like Neanderthals my brain is wired differently from neuro-typical humans. I experience the world in a different way. The portrayal of William, his interactions with other people, the way he struggles with things thing, and is an outsider trapped in a world where he doesn't belong, it all really hit home. This picture is almost a study in autism by proxy.

Long and short of it all... It makes you think. It causes the viewer to question certain aspects of their existence, society and allows them to empathize with the main character because of how it is written. For those wondering if you should watch it---, it's worth a look!

The initial premise isn't too bad. There are some problems. For example when the science on recovering and using A(ancient)-DNA gets better, you aren't going to see these types of experiments in North America, or Europe as in both surveys show a very large amount of resistance. But rather in east Asia where the surveys show a lot more borad public acceptance of human DNA experimentation.

There is also an issue with the way the Neanderthal's boy's intelligence is dealt with. We know that on broad averages individuals and population groups with more Neanderthal DNA input have better spacial intelligence and comprehension of metaphor and symbol -- not less. In that sense this film inverts the science. Neaderthal most likely extinction was caused by competition and with Homo Sapiens with Homo Sapiens key advantages being in long, medium and short burst running speed and a couple of other attributes, including greater sexual dimporphism, that led to better specialization.

but those are not the main problems with this film. The main problem is shoehorning an interesting science fiction piece with a tired melodrama of a kid being different, wishing they were not, and then acceptance. it makes this film a hallmark card/lifetime channel trope that isn't even above average in that field.