Mean Creek
Mean Creek

Mean Creek

2004Movie90 minEnglish

Teenagers living in small-town Oregon take a boat trip for a birthday celebration. When they get an idea to play a mean trick on the town bully, it suddenly goes too far. Soon they're forced to deal with the unexpected consequences of their actions.

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Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes88%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users81%
Director: Jacob EstesGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A group of troubled teenagers plans to extort and then kill a local bully who has been terrorizing one of their friends. As their plan unfolds, the lines between right and wrong blur, and the consequences of their actions begin to spiral out of control. The situation escalates from a simple prank to a desperate fight for survival, testing their friendships and their morality.

Critical Reception

Mean Creek was widely praised by critics for its unflinching portrayal of adolescent angst and the complex moral ambiguities faced by its young characters. The film was lauded for its realistic dialogue, strong performances from its young cast, and its ability to balance a tense thriller narrative with genuine emotional depth. It resonated with audiences for its raw honesty and its exploration of the darker side of growing up.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gritty realism and authentic depiction of teenage life.
  • The film's tension and moral complexity were highlighted as major strengths.
  • Performances, particularly from the young cast, received significant acclaim.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's raw and honest portrayal of difficult choices teenagers face, with many finding the story compelling and the performances believable.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in and around the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, with many scenes taking place in actual suburban neighborhoods and schools.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Gimly

Gimly

I pretty much never turn down a movie that purports to be in the "Fucked-Up-Coming-of-Age-Movie" category, and rarely am I disappointed. _Mean Creek_ does absolutely nothing to buck that trend, being a completely engaging movie that I start...