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Runt
By Jordan Elizabeth,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teen seeks violent revenge against bullies in dark drama.
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Runt
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What's the Story?
In RUNT, Cal (the late Cameron Boyce) is harassed and abused by a group of bullies at his high school. When one of the bullies believes that Cal has a crush on his girlfriend, the torment escalates. The adults in Cal's life, including his parents and teachers, are either absent or incompetent. At first, Cal tries to ignore the bullying, believing that disclosing the situation to any of these adults would only make matters worse. Then, when the bullies confront Cal at a party, shove him in the trunk of a car, and sexually assault his friend Cecily (Nicole Elizabeth Berger), Cal decides to retaliate. Cal and the bullies proceed to engage in a series of one-upping, with each form of retaliation darker and more violent than the last. Cal must ask himself, what does it mean to win this war if the price is his own morality?
Is It Any Good?
Runt is a dark, violent story about bullying and revenge. It's been reported that Boyce hoped/believed that the movie would shed light on the negative impact of bullying among teens. The star commands the screen with authenticity and depth, slowly transforming as Cal becomes a shell of his former self with each violent act. But while it's insinuated that Cal is held accountable for his actions in the end, he also "gets the girl." This pairing of violent behavior and "reward" runs the risk of glorifying Cal's behavior and undermining the promotion of peace and anti-violence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Runt handles the topic of bullying. How does physical bullying compare to the online/cyber kind?
Do you think Cal's approach to punishing the bullies was the right one? Why, or why not? What other solutions could he have tried?
How does the movie depict teenage drug use and drinking? Does it glorify these things? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 1, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: October 19, 2021
- Cast: Cameron Boyce , Brianna Hildebrand , Jason Patric
- Director: William Coakley
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: 1091 Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: High School , Middle School
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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