“They call us monsters” is a film about teenagers who commit serious crimes. The characters hope that their lives will get better after their early release from detention, but dysfunctional circumstances push them to commit more crimes and risk being arrested again. The key theme of the film is juvenile delinquency; within it, the director asks the audience many questions. Chief among these is whether teenagers should be held as responsible for serious crimes as adults. By the end of the film, the director’s negative answer to this question becomes apparent.
The main argument that full-fledged punishments for childhood crimes should not be part of the judicial practice is the stories of the main characters, which demonstrate the horrors of the early years experienced by teenagers. For example, Jarad once witnessed the suicide of his father; this episode affected the boy’s psychology and unequivocally affected the course of his later life (Lear, 2016). Another character, Antonio, believes that he can rehabilitate himself but finds himself homeless after a while and begins to lead a criminal lifestyle. Society deprives young people of the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves from the problems and trauma they have suffered.
The issue of juvenile delinquency is inextricably linked to child psychology. This idea is clearly demonstrated in the film. The qualities that adolescents possess are brought up primarily by a dysfunctional environment and living conditions (Harmening & Gamez, 2016). Consequently, crime stories are a clear indicator that juveniles need help and support. For the characters of the film, the initial imprisonment and work with teachers should be a good start in order to make the right conclusions and to change the value orientations. But the worldview of adolescent criminals cannot be changed if, after release, they return to the conditions that motivated them to kill and do other things.
The message of this film is that young people deserve financial and psychological support from the state. It is necessary to involve various youth foundations, educational organizations, and volunteer units in addressing this issue, which, as this film shows, is unappreciated. In fact, by depriving children of their physical freedom after committing such crimes and not giving them the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, the law enforcement agencies deprive them of the freedom to be what they want to be but cannot for reasons beyond their control.
The problem mentioned in the film needs to be solved not only on a practical level but also on a theoretical one. The story shows that, at the moment, there is not enough legislation to provide the necessary support for minors in difficult social circumstances. Assigning punishments to minors, the same as those applied to adult offences, does not improve the situation; on the contrary, it exacerbates it.
The characters’ stories demonstrate to viewers the conclusion that a disregard for the law is often cultivated in a dysfunctional family, passing from the older generation to the younger one. Having received a full-fledged punishment without the possibility of rehabilitation, the child has no opportunity to give up his values. The life of such a person is programmed for further offences, which have no prerequisites for termination. Adolescents, being a psychologically and economically vulnerable group, need support even when serious crimes have been committed.
References
Harmening, W., & Gamez, A. (2016). Forensic Psychology. Pearson.
Lear, B. (2016). They call us monster [Film]. Matson Films.