William

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

Interesting film but there could have been so much more made with this film. Just didn't feel right. He's too normal and normal looking and they didn't explore the differences enough. It's an ok watch.

Although this movie is full of science stuff, especially in the beginning, it's by no means a science fiction film, but doesnt pretend to be one either. It's a drama, plain and simple.....a family drama more accurately. There's plenty to like about this film so it was worth the watch. Yes it sped through and glossed over plenty of parts which may have seemed liked missed opportunities for character and plot development and explaination, maybe, but it hit on all the important aspects of family, friendship, parenting, bullying, intolerance, love, isolation, and some science too. I didn't much care for the ending though and I really don't think it was even an accurate depiction of reality.....without spoilers, so I'll stop there. You'll have to see for yourself to find out if you agree or not. The acting was good from everyone, and direction, editing, location all worked well. Rated a 7, a fair movie, worth watching.

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.

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.