I watched a freaking scary movie last night with my hubby. We were looking for some viewing entertainment and came across this gem (sarcasm). Sounded interesting, not many other options, the subject matter potentially hitting close to home, a sexy leading man for my viewing pleasure (Clive Owen), we select the movie, Trust.
The jist of the story is this: recently turned 14 year old receives computer from parents for her birthday (seemingly innocuous), goes online to chat room and makes friends with a "sixteen year old fellow volleyball player from California". Come to find out, the 16 year old is, in fact, a 35 year old Physics teacher! (Ackkkkk!) Of course, young and naive 14 year old doesn't realize this until she is MEETING him at the mall (DANGER!) for the first time! Creeper alert!!
As you can well guess, Creeper continues his smooth talk and flattering compliments (Creep!), leading said naive girl to his hotel room where he assaults her. (Pardon me while I purge...) Said 14 year old tells her well meaning best friend who tells the principal of what she heard (Good job, best friend!!) and girl becomes crime victim. Dad and mom are destroyed by the news (of course), FBI becomes involved, Dad becomes obsessed with vengeance (who wouldn't), makes several stupid decisions and 14 year old tearfully defends Creeper because they are "in love" (I had a brief seizure at this revelation.)
Of course, the story progresses through the family in crisis, the girls' final acknowledgement of the Creeper as a Creeper (sigh of relief) and the dad becoming less obsessed with the Creeper and becoming more concerned with loving and caring for his victimized daughter ('bout time.)
Spoiler Alert: The last scene of the movie shows the Creeper with HIS family at a carnival, all happy and smiling, being introduced by one of his students to the student's parents!! (OMG!!)
Not just a disturbing story for the average person; a horror story for any parent with a preteen/teenage daughter or son, for that matter. I just kept seeing my sweet, naive 10 year old, chatting online, oblivious to the dangers, being sucked in by some crazy online predator. During the course of the movie, my plan evolved: my daughter's phone privileges where revoked indefinitely, then I promised to sit beside her as she plays innocently on her little Poptropica website, then I pledged to NEVER buy her a computer of her own, finally, with the complete loss of sanity, I banned her to her locked and padded room until the ripe age of 25 years. Of course, my realistic, down to earth hubby just nodded in agreement to my rantings.
Now that I've slept on the topic, I probably won't initiate the full SHELTER CHILD NOW! plan, and I have come to realize the real worth of the movie. It was an eye opener about what really does happen on the internet, in the real world. It's an eye opener to how parents can be as naive as their children when they don't look at the big picture. I felt sad and despondent when I realize that I won't be able to cut my daughter off from all of the potential dangers of the internet, or the world, for that matter. And I am doing her a disservice by not educating her and an even bigger mistake by thinking that making huge limits on her life will protect her (likely only driving her INTO danger with severe strictness.) Further stressing me, I realized that, in fact, I am her first defense from foes such as these, with my love and support and nurturing of her self worth and self esteem. I am her first defense against naivete by helping her realize that there are real dangers out there and how she can protect herself from them. I am her first defense by helping her to look to her immediate, surrounding family as her support. And ultimately, I am her first defense by providing appropriate boundaries and rules as she explores the world outside our home.
Pretty scary business, if you ask me. It's sobering for me to acknowledge that I have such an impact on my daughter. I know this cognitively but I experienced a huge emotional reminder when I watched that movie last night. And, as the counselor in the movie said, we don't have control over what happens to ourselves and our loved ones. We can only be there, love them, when they do fall down.
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