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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Wednesday's Child remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have the stomach for a movie that doesn't shy away from how selfish adults can be, watch it. It’s a quiet, old-fashioned, and honestly pretty brutal look at childhood neglect. If you’re looking for a light watch or something that ties up neatly, look elsewhere. This one leaves a sting.
Frankie Thomas carries the whole thing on his shoulders. He plays Bobby with this sort of haunted, wide-eyed confusion that feels way too real for 1934. He’s not acting like a movie kid; he’s just reacting to his parents being total disasters.
The parents are supposed to be "in love" with their new partners, but they come off as mostly just annoyed by their own kid. It’s infuriating. There’s a scene where they’re haggling over who has to take him for the holidays, and it feels like they’re discussing a piece of luggage they forgot to check in. Ouch.
It reminds me a bit of the domestic mess in Never Again, but with a lot less shouting and a lot more quiet resentment. The silence in the house after the divorce papers go through? That was the hardest part to sit through.
There’s this moment where Bobby is just sitting on a suitcase, waiting to be told where he’s going next. It lasts maybe ten seconds too long. It’s not flashy, but it sticks in your brain. Most modern directors would have cut that out to keep the pace moving, but the movie just lets it sit there and rot.
The film doesn't try to be a "social issue" drama, even though it clearly is. It’s just about a kid who realizes his parents aren't the heroes he thought they were. It’s a bit dry at times, and the pacing definitely chugs like an old train, but it’s got a heart that feels like a bruised apple. You know, it’s not perfect, but it’s real.
It’s not as energetic as Shift the Gear, Freck, obviously, but then again, that’s not really the point, is it? Sometimes you don't want a show. You want a movie that just tells you the truth about how cold a living room can feel.
Anyway. I’m still thinking about that suitcase scene. 😕
