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Mean Creek

Play trailer Poster for Mean Creek R 2004 1h 29m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 121 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Quiet adolescent Sam (Rory Culkin) has been bullied by George (Josh Peck), a fellow student who has trouble fitting in with other teens. When Rocky (Trevor Morgan), Sam's elder brother, finds out Sam is being picked on, he enlists his buddies to help get back at George. They ask George to accompany them on a boating expedition deep in the woods, but when their plan to humiliate George horrifically backfires, the friends make a series of poor decisions that will change their lives.
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Mean Creek

Mean Creek

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Critics Consensus

Mean Creek is an uncomfortably riveting glimpse into the casual cruelty of youth.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/26/2010
3/5
This movie about teens is for adults only. Go to Full Review
Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer 10/19/2004
3/4
Estes' dark sunlit tale cuts like a knife. Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel 09/24/2004
4/5
A low-key, low-budget thriller that reminds us just how cruel young people can be. Go to Full Review
Steve Erickson Nashville Scene 01/29/2019
For all its contrivances and hesitations, Mean Creek showcases a real, promising talent-even if he might be better off writing about characters his own age. Go to Full Review
Sean Nelson The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 08/23/2017
Mean Creek is a strong premise gone horribly awry. Go to Full Review
Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed 04/29/2009
A very effective tale of morals, conscience, and peer pressure. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Joey H @Joeyhubb1989 Dec 26 Released by Paramount Classics on August 20th, 2004; directed by Jacob Aaron Estes; produced by Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson and Hagai Shaham, and with a musical score composed by TomandAndy; this independent drama film tells the powerfully tragic story of a small group of friends who set out to plan a harmless revenge prank on a school bully that goes horribly, horribly wrong and the kids must then decide whether or not to deal with the consequences of their actions. Taking place in a small town in Oregon, the group of friends consist of brothers Rocky and Sam Merric, played by Trevor Morgan and Rory Culkin respectively, Sam’s girlfriend Millie played by Carly Schroeder, and Rocky’s two best friends, the troubled Martini “Marty” Blank, played by Scott Mechlowicz, who hasn’t been himself since his father committed suicide some time ago and has an older brother Kile who treats him poorly; and the reserved and quiet Clyde, played by Ryan Kelley, who gets teased and ridiculed for having two fathers. One day at school, Sam ends up getting beaten up by older school bully George Tooney, played by Josh Peck, after he innocently picks up George’s precious handheld videocamera out of curiosity. After informing his brother about what happened, Rocky, Marty and Clyde decide that they want to plan out some harmless revenge to get back at George. They proceed to invite George on a boating trip on the river under the guise of celebrating Sam’s birthday. Their plan is to take George out on the river, invite him into a game of truth or dare and ultimately have him stripped naked and thrown into the river and then leave him to have to make his way back home in the nude. Sam’s girlfriend Millie finds herself reluctantly dragged along for the trip and insists that Sam and the boys call off their plan. As the day goes on, the group soon find themselves becoming genuine friends with George after learning that he has dyslexia and is actually just a really misunderstood and lonely boy who wants to be socially accepted. This makes things complicated when everyone but Marty agrees to call off the prank. One thing leads to another on the boat trip and things eventually turn very dark and tragic and the group are forced to confront what they have done and hope that they earn forgiveness for their misdeeds. This is one of my most favorite independent films of all time. I give this film a solid ten out of ten rating with five stars. I highly recommend it to everyone I know. See more mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Jul 22 Disturbing and gripping. You go along for the ride, knowing that it won't end well. See more John S 02/05/2024 Well done morality play involving teenagers. Sound familiar? See more Jerod S @jeroduptown 12/13/2023 The creek is peaceful, the kids are the mean ones. When little Culkin gets bullied by the kid with dyslexia, his little gang of friends plan to ridicule him on the creek. But it gets much worse. See more Rami A @Bunt101 10/16/2023 A teen film that is only intended for adults and does a superb job of fusing comedy with drama. See more Colin M 07/08/2022 Good film but the ending left me feeling shortchanged. See more Read all reviews
Mean Creek

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Movie Info

Synopsis Quiet adolescent Sam (Rory Culkin) has been bullied by George (Josh Peck), a fellow student who has trouble fitting in with other teens. When Rocky (Trevor Morgan), Sam's elder brother, finds out Sam is being picked on, he enlists his buddies to help get back at George. They ask George to accompany them on a boating expedition deep in the woods, but when their plan to humiliate George horrifically backfires, the friends make a series of poor decisions that will change their lives.
Director
Jacob Aaron Estes
Producer
Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson, Hagai Shaham
Screenwriter
Jacob Aaron Estes
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, Focus Features
Production Co
Whitewater Films
Rating
R (Sexual References|Language|Teen Alcohol and Drug Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$603.9K
Runtime
1h 29m
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