Children of Sorrow (2012)

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Desperate to discover what has become of her sister, Ellen (Hannah Levien) infiltrates Simon Leach's (Bill Oberst Jr.) cult. All she knows is that her sister was last seen joining his group in order to find herself, only to go missing after joining. Ellen is welcomed with open arms and although her initial intent is to search for her sister, she finds herself drawn to Simon's magnetic personality and message of love and acceptance. However what she soon discovers is that she, along with all of the cult's companionship-hungry members, are being manipulated to a more sinister and dark end than she could have predicted. Somewhat saved by a superb and haunting performance by Jaquelyn Johnson as Tracey. She is clearly destined for bigger and better roles.

A group of distraught teenagers are lured to a "get better camp" by a self proclaimed pastor/counsellor who has a hidden agenda.These teenagers have been majorly messed over so their minds are easily manipulated. The controlled diet and fears being preyed on play a factor as well.This is one of those movies where everything happens in the last few minutes. Done in found footage fashion although it would have been scarier if you didn't see Simon's face(the cult leader).I felt like I was at an 80 minute AA meeting the way they do the taped interviews and group interactions.Unfortunately you have to pay attention to the boring first 80 minutes because subtle things and quick scenes put together the crux of his madness.If you don't mind going up a steep hill for 80 minutes to have an 8 minute ride then you'll like this movie. But if you want action and fast forget it.No one boldly goes where no ones gone before, but you won't mind it. Be warned though you have to watch a man with a semi use a desk drawer to reach climax.

If you didn't understand this movie, you probably shouldn't be watching it. This is probably the best movie I've ever seen. But if you're confused and interested in what this movie actually means, let me explain.This movie is all about Satan. Father simon = father Satan.There are a few different ways to interpret this movie...there is of course the main plot..which is described here by IMDb. And then there is the "real" way to explain it.Basically, these people are mentally disturbed, or possibly even children of Satan. Psychopaths....people who are either spiritually for evil/Satan, or perhaps the reason behind these people's feelings is scientific.There are people out there who cannot really feel emotion. These people basically rely on the most "extreme" things in life to feel "joy" which is only temporary. This joy comes from murder, torture, and sex. They have no desire to live. They would much rather be dead. That is why you see them feel the most joy they have felt in life when they are about to die.Now these people have pretty much been screwed by society, because they are the people locked up in prisons or mental facilities. Most people in life thrive for love, having a family, having a job...etc...enjoying life. These people literally thrive for death. And they cannot get what they want, because it's not accepted by society. So these followers of Satan come together to an area where they can all be themselves. Sexually perverted, psychopathic murderers. An area where they can be "themselves."EVERYTHING IN THIS MOVIE IS A SEXUAL REFERENCE. Literally everything. "smile" = vagina (i think..or something like that) "birdhouse" = vagina...I believe it's even taken from the perspective of a penis. Watch the eye movements and the hidden messages. They have clothes on in the movie but I believe that they don't "really" have clothes on. (just an illusion..it's hidden)The "gate" you see I believe is the "gateway to hell." These people WANT hell, which is why the girl who cried before dying was killed OUTSIDE the gates, basically hell denied her.I believe these people are incapable of feeling "love" only "lust."As a person of Jesus, I get very confused watching this movie. I honestly don't know how to respond to people like this. If you lock them up, you hurt them more..but you lower the risk of "good" people being hurt by them. And you take away what they actually desire, which is death. So it raises a question for me...how can you allow these people to exist among others? If you give them freedom, innocents get hurt. If you lock them up, you take away their rights and basically force them to believe what society sees as right. So WHAT IS EVIL? Are these people BORN Of Satan? is their condition MENTAL? is there something supernatural going on here? I don't know...I really don't know. When father simon mentions the police, and says "it's coming" I believe that is a reference to the new world order movement, or possibly a satanic prophecy being fulfilled soon. I'm not like most "christians" .....most of them would absolutely hate these people. But I don't hate them, I think they live the saddest life possible. a life without the ability to feel like humans should. Mankind needs to develop a way for these people to live free as well, but in a way that doesn't put others in danger.Imagine your brain is wired backwards. Like...lust = love...hate = good. torture = joy. where does that leave you? that's a question I'll never be able to answer, but if there is indeed a heaven, I will ask God why these people have been cursed with this life. Love everyone. God can't we find a way to allow true freedom in a way that keeps the good safe from evil...*confused*

2 it is! The perfect grade for this movie! Why, you ask? Well, let's see, the subject is horrible, overly used, and executed not in a horror like style, but torture porn. The acting is let's say somehow acceptable, a little over half of the movie nothing happens, sure, they may have tried to build some character depth, but I think it ultimately failed, cause you don't really get to feel much for anyone. Just hate the main one and move on. So yeah, I guess the movie has one solid performance, as you do get to hate the main actor, but it could also happen cause the movie is so bad and he is the face that appears the most, so making a bound between these two, you end up hating the movie, the always there face and voice and the fact that you wasted your time on a movie called "Children of Sorrow"!.What can I say? Bad choice...these things happen. But hey, you live and learn right. Anyway, don't let others make the same mistake. Warn people. Absolutely nothing to see here, stay away! Far far away! The movie takes place in a desert. So just leave it there!