MovieChat Forums > The Accused (1988) Discussion > More a movie about male-bashing.

More a movie about male-bashing.

posted 16 years ago by dcampbell000
26 replies | jump to latest

I just can't get over the cruelty and barbarity of the rape scene. From the first time I watched this film on cable back in 2001, I felt like just jumping in the screen and dispatching those scumbag rapists one by one. In particular, I hated those spectators who kept encouraging the rape. I would like to see them flogged as well. I can barely contain my increased rage towards men since watching this film. It continued to build up over the years. A movie like this makes me hate men, although I'm a man myself. In dark times of unemployment, I just feel like beating the crap out of them. The movie seems to depict men as fat, drunken, stupid, sexist, misogynistic, ruthless, unscrupulous, and sexually immoral predators. Vile creatures indeed. It's no wonder many people despise men after watching films like this. Those degenerate animals.

[–] AnneSLReid 16 years ago

The sarcasm is just sooooooooo subtle! If you look at the film again, I think you'll find it's a man who is the pivotal part of winning the case - and who does a lot more to help Sarah than her FEMALE friend or FEMALE lawyer (initially). It's a film that exposes the ignorance about rape and rape victims, which is still sadly exemplified everywhere today, 20 years later - and nowhere more so than on this board!

[–] dcampbell000 16 years ago

I don't regard Kenneth Joyce as much of a man, but rather as a fraternity boy. It's mainly the older men I speak of.

[–] AnneSLReid 16 years ago

He is still a man - and a bigger one at that - even if he is not a "man"-cum-redneck.

Re older men, it is Kathryn's boss at the beginning who tells her she has to take the case on - even if it isn't a winner, when she's complaining at the ice hockey game that she doesn't have much of a case. And despite threatening to sack her over the second case, he relents and supports her by turning up at the trial.

I also remember the detective being very sympathetic and Polito being disgusted by what he saw during the rape scene.

Whilst the rest of the men appear apathetic or uninterested in Sarah's rape (e.g. the landlord of the bar, Sarah's boyfriend, the other customers etc), I hardly think this equals "male-bashing". Their behaviour is no worse than Sally's, the media's, Sarah's mother's etc. If it was about "male-bashing", then why not have EVERYONE in the bar (including the landlord) actively goading?

The film "vilifies" (if that is the appropriate term) a small selection of men, made up of mostly sexist rednecks (Sally says: "these aren't the type of guys you want to mess with") and a spoilt college kid - who seems completely out of his element. I don't even think ALL the rapists were portrayed as completely bad as clearly Kurt didn't want to rape her.

Unfortunately, rednecks do exist. If it seems that men are being particularly targeted in this film, that is because these types of men and types of crimes specifically target women, which goes back to what I was saying about this being a crime of violence - not a bit of rough sex. It takes a certain sicko to carry out this type of crime - not every man.

[–] dcampbell000 16 years ago

Yeah. It's not so much I hate all men as I despise rednecks. I mean, what about those redneck rapists from The Prince of Tides? Not only are rednecks a bunch of fat, ugly, alcoholic slobs, but they commit the most heinous acts known to man. They also seem particularly vicious and misogynistic. It never helps that they're so fat and ugly. They feel the need to blame the rest of society on their low socio-economic status, and don't contribute much positive to society. But I suppose these are just sterotypical rednecks. They're not all pigs. It's just too bad they continue to roam the earth.

[–] brookalie 16 years ago

I hate it how people always think that a small number of characters in a given film or television show of a certain gender need to represent everyone of that gender. I probably do the same thing, given the that people generally will think that the small number of people featured are in fact realistic representations of the entire gender, but it's still annoying. Why can't characters just represent themselves, you know what I'm saying? But I digress...

I'm sure the movies objective wasn't the bash men, and I don't it did, so relax. Okay, maybe they should have featured good male characters in film. I can certainly understand why you feel that way. But in terms of how the rapists make all men look...well the majority of rapists out there are men and the majority of the victims are women as I'm sure you're aware...so what choice did they have?

There's always money in the Banana Stand

[–] bite_me_loser_86 14 years ago

This movie depicts true events and the story it is based on is hardly the only one where something like this has happened.
The truth is people are ugly on the inside. Some are just indifferent, unempathetic, some are plain 'evil' and some are just cowards.

But this movie isn't about bashing men. But if it makes you despise men, that is understandable. I was personally very uncomfortable watching the stuff that happened in the bar leading up to the because I have been through similar situations (none that ever lead to any sexual assualt) but still.

I seriously don't think this movie had any GOOD characters, except possibly Sarah. The prosecutor sells her out at first. Her best friend turns a blind eye and flees the bar. Her mom doesn't seem to give a *beep* about her.
Even the ones that had conscience enough to not cheer on and who did not enjoy watching the rape didn't have enough balls to actually step in and put a stop to it OR at the very least walk away and call the cops immediately. Sure, they came through in the end, but only after the damage was done and they had been FORCED to testify.

Sometimes it only takes one brave person to say 'STOP!' to make other people step up as well and the rapists to snap back and realize they are not going to get away with it.

[–] movies789 8 years ago

Kathryn's boss didn't show up at the trial to support her; he went there to watch her lose the case so he could justify firing her.

[–] Darkfalz1979 16 years ago

You do realise that the rape scene is an invention of feminist propaganda and would never happen in real life, right?

[–] lornamd-1 16 years ago

Darkfalz only comes to boards about rape to troll and wind people up so its better not to argue with him.

[–] brookalie 16 years ago

Yeah I figured. Although, if he's being sarcastic, he makes a good point.

There's always money in the Banana Stand

[–] loumcp 16 years ago

Darkfalz stalks survivors online and gets titillated by their stories. Hmmm....makes one wonder. Needs therapy. Urgently. But not attention.

[–] lnghrn19 16 years ago

Yeah, reminds me of the guys selling the t-shirts in New Bedford (where this crime occurred) with a picture of a pool table and the caption "I smelt the felt at Big Dan's"

[–] nizor12 16 years ago

wow u are realy a *beep* stupid idiot ah ?

[–] mikemic73110 16 years ago

The movie seems to depict men as fat, drunken, stupid, sexist, misogynistic, ruthless, unscrupulous, and sexually immoral predators. Vile creatures indeed. It's no wonder many people despise men after watching films like this. Those degenerate animals.

And, does it make you feel better to be a misandrist, man-hating, self-loathing prick? You're no better than these ignorant, man-hating feminists who continuously disrespect men and try to take away their rights.

Maybe you should just get a sex change and become a female. Then, you won't have to feel ashamed of being a man anymore.

[–] lornamd-1 16 years ago

By ignorant man-hating feminists do you mean the feminists in the world that are anti-male or do you think that all feminists hate men because that is not true. A feminist is just a person - male or female - who supports or fights for womens rights such as equal pay for equal work and it is just a minority of feminists who are anti-men.

[–] red_rackham_77 15 years ago

Exactly! Besides men are all terrible, they may upset me when they leave the seat up, smoking, and have their little pride issues but I don't hate them.

[–] AnneSLReid 15 years ago

All this sarcasm on this thread yet no actual point being made other than some men find the law of rape inconvenient.

A "Redneck" is a term (in our country it's a "chav") which can be applied to men or women, fat or thin, drunk or sober, to people who are ignorant, stupid haters (Darkfalz basically). These types include racists, misogynists, homophobes etc and, yes, can also encompass rapists. The rapists and their friends in this film were "rednecks". The rapists in the Prince of Tides were also rednecks (who, by the way, raped a child - are you trying to sarcastically say this was acceptable?).

However, what I am learning from this board, is that most rapists are defined by their hatred of women and rape is a crime of hate against either the individual victim or women in general. This is based on a misunderstanding or fear of women, usually because these men have been rejected by them or cannot attract them.

[–] red_rackham_77 16 years ago

Hello I am a woman and no I have never been rape and no I don't hate men because of this film, I would be a hypocrite if I said all men are perves when I too behave just as barbaric as men do. The movie was the retaling story about a real woman who was publically gang raped, what I have learned is one; I will never drink, two I will never do drugs unless I have cancer and my doctor recommends weed, three, I will never enter a bar without real friends who will never allow such a thing like that happen to me.

If I were a man, the lesson I would learn from this film is very important, "No means No!" which means I stop when a woman tells me too or if I see a guy not taking the answer no, I pull him off her and then I beat the *beep* out of him.

So don't feel bad about yourself, I am glad one guy got a good lesson from this and he is not thinking 'Hot babe getting what she asked for' or anything like that.

[–] metal_head1216 15 years ago

You sound like my kinda woman. Wanna have dinner? J/k don't kill me, lol.

No Sparkling Wiggles here!

[–] hereminton 14 years ago

That said, why don't you check out some bald, face smirking piece of *beep* named a Lt. Mark Bollinger and the rest of that goddamned Rock Hill, SC police department who I feel this way about for accusing me of being a rapist!

"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park

[–] hereminton 14 years ago

That Bollinger isn't the only one. Go down to Aventura, FL and look up some little Oriental piece of *beep* named Inno, who I spent 5 months in jail in 2008 because I called this little piece of wasted life form after what he did to me concerning a rape.

"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park

[–] Chara_Angel 10 years ago

I don't think this movie is about how all men are horrible. It's just about the some men who are.

I don't think a woman will watch this and start to hate men. If anything, she'll hate them (unfairly, sure) from her own personal experiences.

I LOVE it when it's hamburger day!- Romy White

[–] Darkfalz1979 10 years ago

I don't think this movie is about how all men are horrible.

Sure it is. The idea that normal, everyday men would join in and cheer on a gang rape is the very definition of misandry and feminist fantasy.

[–] rascal67 9 years ago

The idea that normal, everyday men would join in and cheer on a gang rape is the very definition of misandry and feminist fantasy.
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That is the problem, yet many may not read between the lines and only read into it what they want too. This film depicts a bunch of redneck jerks, that were inciting the sexual violence to continue and turn the abuse into something entertaining, amusing and playful, like it was a football game. As if "all" men are like this. Yet misandrist, sexist feminists, or those women who like to find anything to manipulate men with, will attribute these appalling attitudes to "all" men, too suit whatever goes with their agenda and entitlements.

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