Directed by Lynne Ramsay, We Need To Talk About Kevin is a film that illustrates the harrowing tale of a mother, Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton), who is forced to critically question her own actions and thoughts in order to make sense of a life-changing event. A high school massacre committed by a son she was never even sure she wanted. This journey of self reflection delves deeply on the theme of morality, and what circumstances make someone more susceptible to the temptations of darkness within us all. The challenge to come to terms with and control it is also explored greatly.
One text that this film reminds me of is the Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan. Both texts touches particularly on the modern day fear of those that have no moral conscience and act a certain way for no fathomable reason. In We Need to Talk About Kevin, this is exemplified by Kevin’s character. Ever since he was a baby, colicky and crying unreasonably, maturing into a stone-eyed, inflexible teenager, he has shown very little to no compassion. He strayed to unspeakable lengths just to cause mayhem. For example, he stuffs his younger sister’s pet hamster down the garbage disposal for no reason but to create conflict.
In the Dark Knight, the Joker too shared this disposition for friction, showcasing this on various occasions. For example, forcing the Batman to choose between saving the life of his best friend or the girl he loved. To me this similarity of causing discord purely for the sake of it, ‘There is no point. That’s the point’ says Kevin, shows a casual disregard for any morality. The repetition of the word point really drives home the message of chaos, which is something that has no real pattern or meaning to it. I believe that this is what happens when you lose control of the darkness within you.
When you allow it to consume you, you no longer feel any guilt or need to think twice before you act. Neither Kevin nor the Joker appear to show any regret for their actions, which I think illustrates just how deep set their ‘evil’ and lack of morality is. Even murder of friends/family, seems to barely affect them, only bring them a twisted sense of satisfaction. This film is one that affected me deeply. It is very much a modern day horror story. A world in which we no longer fear external fantastical beasts but rather the evil within ourselves.
I was struck by the significant influence and power that a single individual can have over those around them. If Eva had been less distanced as a mother, would Kevin have turned out the way he did? ‘Mommy was happy before Kevin came along. Now she wakes up every morning and wishes she was in France’ Eva states at one point. An irrational anger towards her infant child contrasted by the obvious false happy tone she says it in highlights to me the frustration that Eva feels. If Franklin (Eva’s husband and Kevin’s father) had been less naive, could all these atrocities have been avoided?
This to me, shows just how important it is to be aware and fully in control of every action you make which is proven by the character of Eva. Throughout the film, this was one character I felt was the most ‘human’ of them all. She is a woman thrust into motherhood unwillingly, trying to make the best of a bad situation, faced with obstacles at every turn. Eventually at certain points through the film, she snaps and expresses her anger and frustration. These outbursts she later regrets as it causes her to act cruelly. At one point, Kevin purposely defecates himself, right after Eva had changed him.
Having already had a difficult day with Kevin, she all but throws him on to the changing table. Instantly she rushes forward knowing that what she had done was wrong. However, it is too late as Kevin sits there, with his arm twisted at an awkward angle. Her irrational outburst, even as Kevin was a toddler, showed me that feeling weak and out of control, weakened the barrier between your moral conscience and the deep, dark feelings that people may have. Nevertheless, in the following moments she is overcome with guilt at what she had done.
This shows that despite anger and stress being aggravating factors which can cause someone to lose control, her sense of morality allowed her to regret the decision, and never again did she snap like that. This moral conscience is something that I could relate to. This is because in the past I too have felt similar emotions, which cause me to lose sense of direction and make the wrong decision. However like Eva, I was able to reflect back on these moments and use the experience as a learning curve, to change the way I acted in similar situations in the future. Why? ”I used to think I knew but I’m not sure anymore’. These were lines exchanged by mother and son at the end of the film. In my opinion this exemplifies the importance of remaining in control of your values and morals. Kevin throughout the film as stated before makes decision just for the sake of it. Again, it emphasis his lack of purpose and the constant recurrence of chaos in his life. No morals or values made it easier for him to become completely enveloped in his own world, with no outside perspective to make sure he remained on a clear path.
This lack of direction and complete involvement in their own world reminds me particularly of mindless soldiers in an army. Some of them who began with a purpose, now just follow the flow. They lose all sense of self, and become just a cog in the machine. This makes me angry and uncomfortable as things such as morals form a basis for your individuality. When you lose this, I believe you become just a bland placeholder, with no character. While your actions may have an impact on others, nd may initially bring you joy, when you eventually have to face them, as you did not do something with a sense of purpose, I believe you will feel lost.
Kevin has reached his end and the world no longer pays any attention to him, which therefore means his loss of control, has caused him to become someone who is almost unrecognizable to him. In conclusion, We Need to Talk About Kevin, was a thought provoking film that helped me try understand what causes someone to lose control of their darker thoughts, and what differentiates those who reflect on this from those who do not face it. Amanda Dharmasekhara