Watch Joshua

Joshua is a 2007 psychological horror film, directed by George Ratliff, and stars Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, and Jacob Kogan. The movie follows the story of a young family who are unsettled by the strange behavior of their 9-year-old son, Joshua. The film is set in a rather affluent and dysfunctional family in New York City. Young Joshua (Jacob Kogan) is an only child with parents Brad (Sam Rockwell) and Abby Cairn (Vera Farmiga). His mother is an ex-concert pianist who now spends her days caring for her son while his father is a successful businessman. Despite the family's material success and more than adequate living conditions in their charming Manhattan townhouse, tensions begin to mount after the birth of Joshua's little sister Lily.

As the pressure on the family starts to mount, so does Joshua's odd behavior. The young boy's controlling and manipulative behavior begins to take a turn and become more disturbing. He starts to play psychological games with his family and even his teacher. Slowly, he starts to reveal darker, more disturbing sides of his personality.

Joshua uses his intelligence and talent, combined with his increasing detachment from the rest of the world, to manipulate his family and create a sense of chaos around him. As a result, his parents are forced to confront their own shortcomings and deeply ingrained psychological issues, leading to further damage to the family.

In essence, the film is a portrayal of the psychological deterioration of a family in the face of intense pressure and manipulation by one of its own members. The child behaves as if he has been possessed by a manipulative and controlling spirit that sets out to destroy the harmony of this once-normal family. Joshua gradually reveals his true self, causing his parents to question everything they knew about their child and themselves.

Throughout the movie, the viewer is faced with mounting anxiety at Joshua's increasingly alarming behavior. The film is expertly crafted to sustain levels of suspense and anxiety right until the final act. The pacing of the story is particularly effective and keeps the audience guessing about what's going to happen next.

The performances of the actors in Joshua are perfect from start to finish. Vera Farmiga's portrayal of Abby Cairn is particularly noteworthy, as she delivers an outstanding performance as a tortured mother who's struggling to make sense of her child's behavior. Sam Rockwell plays the role of Brad Cairn with confidence and poise, portraying a character whose facade of success crumbles under the weight of his son's antics. As Joshua himself, young Jacob Kogan is brilliant, delivering an eerie and unsettling performance that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

In terms of style, the film is shot as if it were a play, utilizing cinematic techniques that mimic the feel of a live theatrical performance. The camera is placed in such a way that it feels like we are watching from the perspective of a theater-goer. The lighting and color palette are used to reflect the mood of the story, growing more sinister and disturbing as the film progresses. The soundtrack, a mix of classical music and ambient cues, reinforces the sense of the child's control over his surroundings.

In conclusion, Joshua is a deeply unsettling and haunting film that will leave you questioning just how well you know the people you love. It's a masterclass in suspense and psychological horror that's expertly crafted and executed. The performances are outstanding, the pacing is perfect, and the story is both unsettling and thought-provoking. If you're a fan of horror or psychological thrillers, Joshua is not to be missed.

Joshua is a 2007 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 69.