Hurt

By chance I caught this film late last night, and I am still thinking about it. It was a very sad, but interesting film. The three characters of Stevie, Boy, and Darla meet at a party, and seemingly they have very little in common. As the movie progresses, we find this is not true. They all come from broken homes, and are very troubled. The strong friendship they form helps them face their problems head on. I was very impressed by the lead actors in this film. They played their roles with such true emotion that it was impossible not to sympathize with them. I would definitely recommend this film. 8.5/10

Ended up catching this disturbing and affecting Canadian movie like most people did, on late night pay Tv.

Coming from an abusive household myself, maybe I was a little bit more sympathetic to the characters than most people would be. I do agree with other reviewers that the visual representations of their abuse were a little over the top and heavy handed (re: the screaming while on the swings scene). But the performances were just so universally excellent from all the teens, that I really got caught up in the story regardless. The three teens felt like real friends, and their reactions to everything that happened, considering the difficulty of the material, was nothing short of amazing.

In fact, the rest of the cast is excellent as well, with a special mention going to Darla's father, who gets just the right mix of crazy, selfish, and loving to make him feel real.

Ultimately, this movie is emotional, and I found myself crying at the end like many others did. Coming from that type of abuse in my childhood, I sat watching, thinking hopefully there was a positive end coming for all these characters.

Yet this is not a Hollywood film, and no matter how much I hated it, the ending was perfectly appropriate and honest. I have read many people who disagreed with the way it all played out, but to me it felt like the ultimate symbolism, and something that happens far more than any of us would like to admit

Quite simply, the movie is a hard watch, but for those who enjoy true emotional and realistic filmaking, its a gem. A movie that refuses to cater to the moral code (especially with the ending), and is all the better for it. Whether its morally responsible or not is a judgment call.

I just caught this one, like most everybody else, on Movie Central late at night. By the end I was in tears. There was no soundtrack, the acting was a little incredulous, there was no cookie-cutter Hollywood warm feeling in your stomach when the credits began to roll. But real life doesn't always come with a side order of happy ending and that's why this movie touched me in such a powerful way. The acting may have been a little suspect...but the characters portrayed mirror parts in some of us, or in people we know in a very straightforward (and for some of us who have been down that road, painful) kind of way.

I guess you really have to experience the kinds of abuse that stem from substance abuse, neglect and a broken home life (along with the natural side-effects; depression, blame and hatred) to really understand how attractive suicide becomes. When just running away, taking another ride, or drowning your sorrows in whatever toxic substance happens to be your poison of choice, is no longer enough. This kind of thing happens every day for real, I know it has in my life (and I thank God for the second chance that I've been given).

I would recommend this show for anyone who is or has been abused, felt like death is the only option, or just can't find the strength to deal with all the pain inside. In the writers own words "For those who have survived, for those who have not and for those who continue to struggle..."

Although the movie seems not credible sometimes, these things DO happen, and I guess this is the scariest part. If we just shrugged off this film as an overdramatic teenage drama, we'd make a mistake, in my opinion. I wouldn't say that the characters were developed brilliantly and without any flaws, but they were strong enough. Although in some parts it seems that they shouldn't be feeling and/or doing what they are, if you really think about it, you'd understand. This film makes you think, and also re-evaluate your own life and attitude. And that's what is great, isn't it?

Watching TV one night I found myself watching a film which brought back situations I have found myself hiding from since I was a teenager (being suicidal since around the age of twelve and wishing my alcoholic mess of a mother dead around 15 and 16 yrs old). It helps me accept my own emotions and face my past when I see videos that are as honest as "hurt".

Through my own experience and what I know of abusive homes, loneliness, hopelessness, grieving and friendship, the themes of this film where portrayed very accurately. I loved it I have caught the ending a few times but only seen the whole thing once. I have finally remembered to look it up and am sorry to hear I missed the last showing on movie central. I just wish it were available to buy.

I think the most powerful thing I have ever read was the dedication that came up at the end. I found myself sitting in silence, crying over all the pain I have felt from my past, thanking whatever it was that kept me alive and got me through, grieving for all the people that have not survived and wondering what I can do for those still suffering. Thank you all that helped create this film.