History Film / Detainment

* AdultFear:
** Your two-year-old child being kidnapped from a shopping center and killed by two primary school boys.
** Finding out that your ten-year-old child was responsible for such a terrible crime.

* DeathOfAChild: The entire plot of the film revolves around the killing of a two-year-old.

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short drama film directed by Vincent Lambe. It is an account of one of the most disturbing crimes of the past century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a Liverpool toddler named James Bulger]], by two boys who were themselves only ten years old. The film focuses on the two young perpetrators being questioned by the police (about 80% of the dialogue is taken word-for-word from interview transcripts).

** Finding out that your ten-year-old child was responsible for such a gruesome crime.
* AnachronismStew: At one point during the opening sequence, when the boys are seen shoplifting from a candy store, a ''[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' toy can be seen in the background. ''[=SpongeBob=]'' started in 1999; the crime took place in early 1993.

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short drama film directed by Vincent Lambe. It is an account of one of the most disturbing crimes of the past century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a Liverpool toddler named James Bulger]]. The film focuses on the two young perpetrators being questioned by the police (about 80% of the dialogue is taken word-for-word from interview transcripts).

* HeroicBSOD: Venables loses his composure many times during the film, but by the end he is wailing and screaming "make it stop!" over and over while punching his dad, who just sits there with [[the kind of stare you’d expect one to have upon finding out that their child murdered someone in such a gruesome manner]].

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: Thompson is shown acting defiant and angry during his interviews, shouting back at the police and not showing the tiniest bit of remorse. Venables is crying in the way one might expect of a child accused of such a thing - but of course, his behavior in committing the murder fits this trope.

* HeroicBSOD: Venables loses his composure many times during the film, but by the end he is wailing and screaming "make it stop!" over and over while punching his dad, who just sits there with a ThousandYardStare.

* HeroicBSoD: Venables loses his composure many times during the film, but by the end he is wailing and screaming "make it stop!" over and over while punching his dad, who just sits there with a ThousandYardStare.

** Finding out that your ten-year-old child was responsible for such a terrible crime.

* HeroicBSoD: Venables cries numerous times when the police interview him, but when they ask him about the batteries that had been found in Bulger's mouth, he totally loses it.
--> '''Detective #1''': I think there's still some things you haven't told us, Jon... the batteries. Why were the batteries there?
--> '''Detective #1''': Jon, is it horrible what happened to the batteries?
--> '''Venables''': No, I don't know anything about what Robert did to the batteries.
--> '''Detective #1''': Why are you crying, then?
--> '''Venables''': 'Cause you'll blame it on me... that I had them! I don't know about the batteries! I don't know! I don't know! ''(gets up and starts to punch his father, who sits there with a ThousandYardStare)''
--> '''Detective #2''': Hey! Hey, don't go to punch your dad.
--> '''Venables''': Me dad thinks I do and I don't! YOU SAY I DO, AND I DON'T - HOW DO YOU KNOW HE GOT KILLED?!!
--> '''Detective #2''': Calm down, Jon! Can you tell us what happened to James' mouth?
--> '''Venables''': I don't know, I never saw nothing!!
--> '''Detective #2''': Jon, you've got to admit yourself that you saw everything that happened there. Because you ''were'' a part of it!
--> '''Venables''': '''(crying)''' No, I never...
--> '''Detective #2''': So you can't say you didn't see!
--> '''Venables''': [[IWantMyMommy No, I want my mum...]] Please, I never... Please, I don't know! Make it stop, Dad! '''PLEASE MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!'''

---> '''Detective #1''': I think there's still some things you haven't told us, Jon... the batteries. Why were the batteries there?
'''Detective #1''': Jon, is it horrible what happened to the batteries?
'''Venables''': No, I don't know anything about what Robert did to the batteries.
'''Detective #1''': Why are you crying, then?
'''Venables''': 'Cause you'll blame it on me... that I had them! I don't know about the batteries! I don't know! I don't know! ''(gets up and starts to punch his father, who sits there with a ThousandYardStare)''
'''Detective #2''': Hey! Hey, don't go to punch your dad.
'''Venables''': Me dad thinks I do and I don't! YOU SAY I DO, AND I DON'T - HOW DO YOU KNOW HE GOT KILLED?!!
'''Detective #2''': Calm down, Jon! Can you tell us what happened to James' mouth?
'''Venables''': I don't know, I never saw nothing!!
'''Detective #2''': Jon, you've got to admit yourself that you saw everything that happened there. Because you ''were'' a part of it!
'''Venables''': '''(crying)''' No, I never...
'''Detective #2''': So you can't say you didn't see!!
'''Venables''': [[IWantMyMommy No, I want my mum...]] Please, I never... Please, I don't know! Make it stop, Dad! '''PLEASE MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!'''

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short drama film directed by Vincent Lambe. It is an account of one of the most disturbing crimes of the past century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a Liverpool toddler]] named James Bulger. The film revolves around the two young perpetrators being questioned by the police (about 80% of the dialogue is taken word for word from interview transcripts).

The film opens with the boys in question, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, being taken to the police station with their parents where they are interrogated by the police. Venables is terrified at the prospect of being punished for what he has done; Thompson keeps his head held high and swiftly denies any involvement. Gradually, the police get the boys to confess what they have done. As the boys grudgingly tell their story, a series of flashbacks plays out that show them walking through the streets of Liverpool with Bulger before they stop at the rail yard and beat him to death.

** Finding out that your ten-year-old child was the perpetrator of such a terrible crime.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Aside from a bump on Bulger's head from the first time they hit him, none of the violence inflicted on him is shown on camera.
* HopeSpot: Twice during the flashbacks, bystanders notice the three boys and ask if Bulger is okay, and for a moment it looks like he will be rescued, but nothing happens.
** The first time, an old woman asks what happened to Bulger when she notices a bruise on his forehead, and Thompson says they found him near the hill. She tells them to take him to the police station and sends the boys on their way, without accompanying them.
** The second time, two concerned women ask where the boys are taking Bulger. One woman resolves to take Bulger to the station herself, but when she asks the other woman to look after her daughter while she does so, the other woman declines as her dog is afraid of children, allowing the boys to proceed.

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: Thompson is shown throughout his interview as either sullen or defiant, shouting back at the police, not showing the tiniest bit of remorse. Venables is crying and scared in the way one might expect of a child accused of such a thing--but of course his behavior in committing the murder fits this trope.
* VillainousBreakdown: Venables loses his composure many times during the film, but by the end he is wailing and screaming "make it stop!" over and over while punching his dad, who just sits there with a ThousandYardStare you’d expect one to have upon finding out that their child murdered someone in such a gruesome manner.

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: Thompson is shown throughout his interview as either sullen or defiant, shouting back at the police, not showing the tiniest bit of remorse. Venables is crying and scared in the way one might expect of a child accused of such a thing--but of course his behavior in committing the murder fits this trope.

* GoryDiscretionShot: James Bulger is shown with a bump on his head from the first time the boys hit him. Otherwise none of the violence inflicted on him is shown on camera.

The film opens with the boys in question, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, being taken to the police station with their parents where they are interrogated by the police. Venables is terrified at the prospect of being punished for what he has done; Thompson keeps his head held high and swiftly denies any involvement. Gradually, the police get the boys to confess what they have done. As the boys grudgingly tell their story, a series of flashbacks plays out that showcase them walking through the streets of Liverpool with Bulger before they stop at the railroad tracks and beat him to death.

** Your two-year-old child being kidnapped from a shopping mall and killed by two primary school boys.

* BasedOnATrueStory: A highly accurate retelling of one of the most notorious crimes of the 20th century. (What it doesn't say, however, is that the boys were eventually released from prison after they turned eighteen; Thompson has stayed out of trouble with the law ever since, but Venables has twice been imprisoned for possession of child pornography.)

* {{Delinquents}}: Of the worst sort. Before the boys kidnap James, they're shown shoplifting various items out of the mall and getting chased out of one store by a shopowner.
* {{Flashback}}: The kidnapping of Bulger, and the ambling walk down to the rail yard, is shown in a series of flashbacks as the boys are being questioned.

* TitleSequence: The opening credits show the boys being taken into the police station for questioning, intercut with flashbacks of them playing at the New Strand shopping mall and stealing various things from stores, before they notice young Bulger and get the idea to abduct him.

* AnachronismStew: At one point during the opening sequence, when the boys are seen shoplifting from a candy store, a ''[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' balloon can be seen. ''SpongeBob'' started in 1999; the crime took place in early 1993.

* AnachronismStew: At one point during the opening sequence, when the boys are seen shoplifting from a candy store, a ''[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' balloon can be seen. ''{{SpongeBob}}'' started in 1999; the crime took place in early 1993.

** Your two-year-old child being kidnapped from a shopping mall and subsequently killed. By two primary school boys, no less.
** Learning that your ten-year-old child was the perpetrator of such a terrible crime.

* Your two-year-old child being kidnapped from a shopping mall and subsequently killed. By two primary school boys, no less.
* Learning that your ten-year-old child was the perpetrator of such a terrible crime.
* AnachronismStew: At one point during the opening sequence, when the boys are seen shoplifting from a candy store, a [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants SpongeBob]] balloon can be seen. The crime took place in early

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short drama film directed by Vincent Lambe. It is an account of one of the most disturbing crimes of the past century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a Liverpool toddler]] named James Bulger. The film revolves around the two young perpetrators being questioned by the police (about 80% of the dialogue is taken from interview transcripts).

* AdultFear: It doesn't come worse than having your two-year-old child kidnapped from the mall and murdered. Learning that your ten-year-old child was responsible for such a horrific crime also counts.
* BasedOnATrueStory: A highly accurate version shot on the actual locations using the actual police interviews. (In RealLife the boys were released from prison after serving eight years. Thompson has apparently stayed out of trouble with the law ever since but Venables has twice been imprisoned for possession of child pornography.)
* DeathOfAChild: The horrible death of James Bulger at the hands of two 10-year-old boys.

* MatchCut: From Venables looking around the shopping mall for a victim to Venables shaking his head while being grilled by the police.
* ShownTheirWork: "A true story based on interview transcripts and records." Reportedly the dialogue was taken near-verbatim from actual interviews of Thompson and Venables.

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short drama film directed by Vincent Lambe. It is an account of one of the most disturbing crimes of the past century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a two-year-old boy]] named James Bulger. The film revolves around the two young perpetrators being questioned by the police (about 80% of the dialogue is taken from interview transcripts).

The film opens with the boys in question, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, being taken to the police station with their parents where they are interrogated by the police. Venables is terrified at the prospect of being punished for what he has done; Thompson keeps his head held high and swiftly denies any involvement. Gradually, the police get the boys to confess what they have done. As the boys grudgingly tell their story, a series of flashbacks play out that showcase them walking through the streets with Bulger before they stop at the railroad tracks and kill him.

''Detainment'' is a 2018 short film (30 minutes) directed by Vincent Lambe.

It is a BasedOnATrueStory account of one of the more disturbing crimes of the latter 20th century, namely, the 1993 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger murder of a two-year-old boy]] named James Bulger. Public opinion was shocked when, a week after Bulger was kidnapped from a shopping mall, two ten-year-old boys were arrested for the murder.

The film opens with the two boys, Robert Thompson (born August 23, 1982) and Jon Venables (born August 13, 1982), being taken into the police station by the cops, with their parents accompanying them in near hysterics. Thompson is truculent, denying everything; Venables is scared and weepy. Gradually, the police get Thompson and Venables to recount the story of how they snatched up a random toddler, led him on an aimless journey across Liverpool, took him to a railway yard, and beat him to death. As the boys grudgingly tell their story, the kidnapping is shown through a series of flashbacks.

The film opens with the two boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, being taken into the police station by the cops, with their parents accompanying them in near hysterics. Thompson is truculent, denying everything; Venables is scared and weepy. Gradually, the police get Thompson and Venables to recount the story of how they snatched up a random toddler, led him on an aimless journey across Liverpool, took him to a railway yard, and beat him to death. As the boys grudgingly tell their story, the kidnapping is shown through a series of flashbacks.

* AdultFear: It doesn't come worse than having your two-year-old child kidnapped from the mall and murdered.
* BasedOnATrueStory: A highly accurate version shot on the actual locations using the actual police interviews. (In RealLife the boys were released from prison after serving eight years. Thompson has apparently lived in anonymity ever since but Venables has twice been imprisoned for possession of child pornography.)

* ShownTheirWork: "A true story based on interview transcripts and records." Reportedly the dialogue was taken near-verbatim from actual interviews of Thompson and Venables.