movies
March 12, 2026
Cinema's Newest, Grimmest Trend
This article contains spoilers for the films Sirāt, Hamnet, Train Dreams, The Voice of Hind Rajab, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another.
TL;DR
- A new cinematic trend features children in jeopardy or dying, creating 'anti-coming-of-age' stories.
- These films, including 'Sirāt,' 'Hamnet,' and 'Train Dreams,' often depict adult characters failing to protect children, leading to loss of innocence or life.
- The trend reflects anxieties about the present and the difficulty of imagining a future amid societal conflicts, disasters, and accidents.
- While some films offer cathartic resolutions, many end ambiguously, highlighting the precariousness of children's futures.
- The use of brutal plot points and unsettling imagery aims to evoke dread and reflect real-world pain experienced by children.
- Despite the grim nature, some narratives show characters coming to terms with loss or emerging stronger from adversity.
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