Movieo
Poster for Mean Creek

Mean Creek

Beneath the surface, everyone has a secret.

2004 · 1h 30m · R Crime, Drama
Directed by Jacob Aaron Estes

Seen it?

Overview

Teenagers living in small-town Oregon take a boat trip for a birthday celebration. When they get an idea to play a mean trick on the town bully, it suddenly goes too far. Soon they're forced to deal with the unexpected consequences of their actions.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
88%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Estes' dark sunlit tale cuts like a knife.

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fresh

A low-key, low-budget thriller that reminds us just how cruel young people can be.

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh

Although it is a flawed film, with a first half that moves slowly and sometimes tediously, it is redeemed by a second half that is gripping, not only for its action but for its moral complexity.

Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic
Fresh

Estes has accomplished quite a bit here. In addition to providing a textbook example of suspense, he also makes us want to know what happens to these kids after the screen goes dark.

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
Fresh

You could call Mean Creek a moral thriller. And the emotional currents the movie wades into are far more tricky than the gentle surface the kids' boat floats along.

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films