Mean Creek

Set in a small Oregon town where secrets are hard to keep and lies even harder, Mean Creek flows with a simple elegance of truth and consequences as it follows a crisis in the lives of its teen characters, keenly directed by first-timer Jacob Aaron Estes.

The journey within begins as a plot for playful payback on a local troublemaker; the journey onscreen begins with a river, as a ragtag group of troubled-and-not teenagers set out on a boat trip to celebrate the birthday of their youngest member. As a sort of boyish Heart of Darkness trip develops, cracks in the crew form when some of the teens have second thoughts about what they are about to do.

Photographed in mossy greens and bark-colored skies, Mean Creek exposes a strange natural growth that appears in the nuanced performances of a fantastic cast, almost as if audience and child are forced to grow up together. What is so fascinating is watching an instinct-driven morality play itself out, swirl in fits and starts, float along for a while, and then finally settle into decisions that will haunt the characters for the rest of their lives.

Theatrical International release dates:
Europe: Apr 29, 05
Japan: Jun 10, 06
Australia: Aug 4, 05

Movie Details

Cast: Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck, Carly Schroeder, Branden Williams, Michael Fisher-Welsh, Raissa Fleming, Kaz Garas, Shelly Lipkin, J.W. Crawford, Heath Lourwood, Ryan Peterson, Hagai Shaham
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 89 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: Widescreen 1.85:1

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DVD Features:

Commentary By The Cast And Crew

Storyboard

Original Theatrical Trailers

Film Notes

International rating:

Europe: 15
Australia: MA

DVD International release dates:
North America: Jan 25, 05
Europe: Oct 3, 05