Bird Box

[DontGiveUpOnMe]

Hi guys,

so recently my cousins and I watched bird box. I am not really into horror movies but due to hanging out with people who were watching it, it just happened. It was pretty intense but not because of the apocalyptic themes... .
Mainly, it was because of how close to home it hit. People didn't get it... .in the movie the main character names her children "Girl and Boy"... .and everybody was pissed that she would do that. And for some reason it made perfect sense to me.

My mom used to play this game where she would wait until I get attached to something. it started out as toys, then it got worse... .papers... .ideas... .the older I got the more abstract. and once the attachment was formed... .she would make me destroy the objects or destroy them herself.

Soon I learned how to attach in a different way but I would almost trick myself. I would act unattached and give things generic names. This was one of the few things that really made me understand this movie.

Apocalypse aside, the film is really good at depicting a more literal view of the internal process of trauma.

Scary film, because it hit close to home.

Would you say that abuse is like a horror movie?
Im interested in what people have to say in general surrounding this topic.

[_inthelight_]

Hi Don’tgiveuponme! I’m so glad you posted this topic because I had a similar experience when watching it. I sobbed afterwards and was surprised that it triggered me in the way it did. Spoiler alert... .

The elements of it that resonated with me was the way she so clearly loved the children but her fear and fierce desire to protect them tainted or completely overshadowed the way she showed her love. The part where Tom pointed out how she never allowed them a chance to be kids with hopes and dream and Mallory protests that every decision she made was for them hit pretty hard. I know my mom did the best that she could even though her methods weren’t as healthy and balanced as I wish they would have been.

When both children offered to sacrifice themselves for the others. Too innocent to have a clear understanding of what that would mean for their self but wanting to be brave and make sure the others were ok.

I think the deepest moment came when she was calling out for girl desperately and then boy said that girl was afraid of her. It was only when Mallory dug deep and tried to connect with girl on a meaningful human level that girl went to her. I saw so much of my relationship with my mom in that scene.

I think abuse can be very much like a horror movie. What I’m learning though is that as we grow and heal, it can be within our capacity to write a happier ending for ourselves.

[Harri]

I haven't seen the movie but it does sound interesting and like it would hit very close to home for me (and a lot of others here).

What I’m learning though is that as we grow and heal, it can be within our capacity to write a happier ending for ourselves.

  Absolutely.   

[Notwendy]

I found the movie to be disturbing too, but didn't relate it to my own experiences at first. This is an interesting connection.

My mother would use things I cared about to punish me- she's destroy toys, if I wanted something, she would not let me have it. She did it through my father too- didn't "allow" him to buy or give me things. It still amazes me that he went along with it.

I don't tend to get attached to things, but I also got overly attached to people- afraid to make them angry or disappointed.

I thought the mother was especially hard on the children, but considering the circumstances, it was for their own survival. To me, it was an example of tough love. I think it was heartbreaking for her to do this but they had to be tough.

[HappyChappy]

Would you say that abuse is like a horror movie?

Yes. Both involve trauma.

Your point about your mum destroying things you liked, this happened so much that my sister and I cared very little about possessions. But I also noticed if we hated something, she would also force it on us. So the trick was to pretend you didn't care about anything - that kept her on her toes.

Good thread - I shall watch this movie you speak off. Normally I avoid horror because I find them funny, I don't scare easily.  I've had enough horror in my life, without having to pay to see it. " Shaun of the dead." is excellent though.

[Marcie]

It was so triggering for me, I could not watch it. My mom was very stern with me like that.