A 1993 American drama directed by and starring Mel Gibson that has a boy (Nick Stahl) wanting to leave home but not making a grade for boarding school. He then meets a disfigured recluse (Gibson) living near by, who is also an ex-teacher.
The movie also stars Margaret Whitton, Fay Masterson, Gaby Hoffmann, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Masur, Michael DeLuise, and Ethan Phillips.
It was released August 25, 1993.
Tropes for the film:
- Entendre Failure: Chuck Norstadt is asked by his mother if his mentor "touched him". Being a young kid, he takes her literally, and it's clear to the audience that he doesn't understand what his mother is really asking him.
Hilarity does not ensue. - Facial Horror: Justin McLeod has this on his face.
- The Film of the Book: The movie is based on the book of the same name by Isabelle Holland.
- Hurricane of Euphemisms: Chuck's mother uses one to see if Chuck has been molested- but it's clear he has no idea what she's really asking.
- Intergenerational Friendship: McLeod, a disfigured recluse, agrees to tutor the troubled Chuck over the summer. Their friendship sparks suspicion amongst the town residents.
- Military School: Chuck actually wants to get into a prestigious military school and has sought out McLeod, the title character, as a tutor for the entrance exam.
- Mistaken for Pedophile: Overzealous mass-hysteria regarding child abuse was criticized here, complete with a Tear Jerker example of Entendre Failure. This is exclusive to the film version. The book the film was based on made it clear that McLeod didn't do anything but try to comfort a hysterical Christopher, who had an involuntary physical response to their closeness because of his emotional state. No one actually accuses McLeod of anything; he leaves of his own accord and isolates himself again, in part to avoid invoking this trope.
- Two-Faced: One side of McLeod's face is badly scarred because of a house fire, hence the title. It also makes many people in the town wary of him, and made him go into self-isolation.
