christophaskell Review of Abuse

Abuse (1983)

An effective way to prove a point (possible minor spoilers)

[16 September 2003]

On the surface level, this film is quite disturbing, because while preaching out against child abuse it is simultaneously showcasing a form of child molestation. Larry (Richard Ryder) is a filmmaker working on a documentary showing the horror of child abuse, and is portrayed, quite effectively by Ryder, as a man who is compassionate towards his cause. Enter Thomas (Raphael Sbarge in his screen debut), a 14 year old victim of child abuse who is looking for help. Instead of calling the authorities for Thomas, Larry decides to use him as a subject in his documentary, entitled 'A Child in Jeopardy'. As the film progresses, the director/subject relationship develops further than intended, all the way into a love 'affair' between the man and young boy. While it is entirely consensual, the viewer can't help but feel uneasy as this young boy reaching out for love and attention is, more or less, taken advantage of by Larry. In the documentary there are comments regarding the emotional state of an abused child, and how they tend to love the abuser and come to depend on them. Despite the love that he proclaims on having for his parents, Thomas finds emotional security in Larry, and mistakes it for passion. I think Bressan did an excellent job at showing how irresponsibly Larry was acting, through an unbiased lens, and how Thomas was moving from one emotionally traumatizing situation to the next, in complete naivety. By not stating, in the film, an opposition to Larry's behavior, the audience is left to judge how they feel. At the same time, the way in which Bressan constructs the story, he does not leave any room for the viewer to condone what Larry is doing. Overall, this was a well crafted story, speaking on two different levels about the danger of abuse, and despite the bad acting (in most parts beside the principal characters), and horrible opening sequence, this film had quite a bit to offer. Rating: 26/40