Some topics are hard to tastefully tackle, especially in the realm of the "thriller," or, "horror" movie genres. Broken Innocence manages to handle the subject of incest and sexual abuse in a respectful manner by not pushing the envelope in showing the abuse, opting to have the actor's and the dialog they share and the tension built between the members of the family. Broken Innocence, written by Charlie Bradley and directed by Chase Dudley focuses on the abuse of Lily at the hands of her father and the turmoil it causes not only within the family, but within herself.
While the premise is a strong one and for the most part, the film is decent enough, there are a few problems. The dialog feels stilted at points and delivered with varying degrees of quality from the cast. While at times, the film can feel like a first draft of something that could have been a much more fleshed out narrative, there are moments where it really sticks out and leaves a lasting impression.
The first and foremost thing that stands out in the forefront is the fact that the film breaks the trope of the cycle of abuse being passed from the parents to the child in terms of the mother. The film sets up a situation where the mother could continue the abuse by taking advantage of a minor, but decides to not be like her husband and father. This is a great swerve from the traditional crutch of, "I was abused, now I will become an abuser."
The second instance comes around the ¾ mark. Lily, having just murdered her mother's psychiatrist, delivers a powerful monologue about why she is who she is and the stifling despair that comes with the territory of being a survivor of abuse.
There is nothing in this film that is going to change the way you view cinema from this point forward, but it does manage to leave you thinking and has scenes that will stick with you for days after.
Broken Innocence is a very solid viewing experience at the end of the day, just something that most viewers may not revisit due to the subject matter. The film has a strong message, even if at times, it struggles to find its voice.
