Brutally Honest: “Bully” Review

Hey fellas, just saw “Bully”, directed by Larry Clark, you know, the guy who made “Kids” and does not shy away from showing the gritty bits of teenage life. The film dives deep into the shenanigans of Florida teens who have more than just sand and sunshine on their minds. It’s like, you can almost smell the saltwater and feel the humidity on your skin while they plot something not-so-lovely on the side…

So, what’s the gist? We’ve got these teenagers, led astray by some seriously bad influence – I’m looking at you, Brad Renfro and Rachel Miner – diving into a plot that spirals out of control. Nick Stahl plays the titular bully and does a cracking job of making you wanna slap him and hug him at the same time. It’s uncomfortable, mate!

You see, it brings me back to the time in Halmstad, a chilly night, a bunch of us sitting by a flickering bonfire, trying to figure out the universe and thinking we knew everything – when really, we had as much clue as an ‘älg’ on a highway. Maybe you can relate? Those late-night, deep chats, under a starry sky – when you think you got life’s map, only to realize it’s just a scribble.

Clark’s way of throwing you into their world is almost sneaky; you’re in knee-deep before you even know it. There’s chaos and intensity, but sometimes I felt like he was waving a flag shouting, “Look how edgy we are!” And that felt a bit forced, you know?

But, hey, it’s worth a watch if you’re into unraveling the intricacies of youth gone wild – but maybe keep a ‘kanelbulle’ handy to take the edge off.

Check the trailer below