Unwatched DVD Pile of Shame: Mean Creak (2004)

For as long as I have known my good friend James he has asked me the same question, “Have you seen Mean Creak?”

Truth be told I used to own a copy of this movie, I foolishly loaned it to somebody shortly after buying it (as I had so many films to get through), and never got it back or remembered whom I leant it to.

So, when James recently visited the Jellyfielders he asked once again if I had seen it, with my answer still the same he swiftly selected the film on his Netflix account and just 8 years on from when it was made I finally got round to watching it.

The story is certainly a familiar one; a young boy (Sam) is bullied at school by another boy and hatches a plan to get his own back. George Tooney is a kid with clear signs of ADHD, he is an overweight outsider who is a bit of a dreamer. He lashed out at Sam for touching his camera, but when asked to go on a boat ride for Sam’s birthday George is happy to have a friend.

Sam’s older brother Rocky and his unbalanced friend Marty set the plan in motion, whilst their plan is merely to humiliate him things take a deadly turn and somebody pays the ultimate price.

The young cast all give great performances, however it’s Rory Culkin as Sam who impresses most. Rory was just 14 when he made this, his older brother Macaulay was off making Richie Rich when he was 14.

While there might not be much in the way of new ideas or a fresh story, the characters and fine group of young actors really make Mean Creak stand out from the others.

There were times during this movie that it reminded me of Stand By Me, only in spirit and Marty feels like he could be a relative of Kiefer Sutherland’s character Ace.

It’s rare that a choice from the Unwatched Pile of Shame is as good as this, I doubt I will be this lucky on my next choice. Mean Creak is a tense and well made low budget movie that is worth checking out. It was on my pile too long.