Shockers (TV Series) Parent's Night (2000) User Reviews

Still powerfully heartbreaking and haunting to watch.

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 9/10 · 14 March 2022]

I first ever saw this a long time ago the one time it aired on Channel 4 in the uk and I never did forget it, it pretty much destroyed me and had me in tears by the end. I recently geared myself up to finally watch it again and twenty plus years later I still found it to be quite the impactful and disturbing piece of work and still deeply unsettling, it's an incredibly tense and awfully dark and sad story to watch, that poor young lad, so lost and hopeless, just utterly torn down by the actions of pretty much one unrelenting and malicious bully as he made a video diary and recorded his harassment on a daily basis, until the events spiralled out of control as the bully stole his camera and even brought his mother and deceased father into his sick little game, and in the story it seems like lonely young David is planning to do something terrible due to his morbid interest in school shootings, but it doesn't quite turn out that way and everything comes to a head one terrible night that is truly tragic for all involved... I didn't cry this time but it certainly shocked me all over again and even gave me a nightmare! It might be a fictional story but it's still very disturbing and sad because very unfortunately events similar to this have happened then and since. The story is very gripping as it builds up to its dark bitter end that you just somehow know is going to be a very painful and hopeless one and it doesn't let go until the final image. It's funny how even after everything you see David go through, when it comes right down to it you still, or at least I did a little, can't help but feel for the lead bully and his cronies when the mother does what she does following her mental breakdown, because that's not the answer either, no matter how many she kills it won't bring her son back, it's just more death in a situation that's already terrible as it is, no good can really come of it... I think films like this are powerful cautionary tales of how bad the effects of bullying can be at their worst, and what can happen when a child feels so alone that they feel they have nowhere left to go. Always try to guard your children and be there for them and let them know that they're loved, but also teach them when it's okay to make a stand and when to ask for help, and that there's so much more to the world then the petty cruelties people often feel the need to inflict upon each other. Deeply sad and distressing yet an exceptionally made and well acted dark drama that packs one hell of an emotional punch to this day. Thank you, take care, and always try to be strong.

Comment in modern horror

[smeghead101 · 8/10 · 20 June 2002]

What a pleasure to see horror about what it used to be. A scare and a shock, but moreover a bit of commentary on society, rather than simply the 'slasher' ethic imposed by 'Scream' and its cousins.

Scary and poignant

[shammy-4 · 29 June 2002]

This is a strange piece of British film, its actually quite scary and very poignant. It works on two levels, firstly as an effective short thriller (something that the British use to make rather well). Secondly, and more importantly, its a poignant look at working class youth today. It actually feels real, even teenagers (those harshest of critics) will recognise the characters and their sad world. This short film will stay with you for some time, excellant acting (especially from the young bully) and extremely well directed. Not many people would have seen this, but check it out. I think it would have worked really well as a short, accompanying a british feature at the cinema.

Personal Experience

[paulanderson-88550 · 10/10 · 2 June 2017]

Resonates with me so much. I was bullied at school. OK it was more teasing. Nothing on that level. This film forces you as someone who was bullied or is being bullied to test your resolve and your character to the max and takes that test to the Nth degree. You see him being bullied and you may feel hate. But once it get's to the end and his mum takes revenge and massacres everyone in the school hall you are forced with a decision. You are at a cross-roads of feelings. Do you continue the hate and enjoy it? Do you feel revulsion that she is killing all these people? What do you do? How should you feel? Brilliant made for TV movie.

shocking and saddening

[sheepboy37-1 · 10/10 · 16 August 2006]

I first saw this while revising for my exams in my first year at uni when it was shown on Channel 4. I found it truly harrowing. I watched it again a few weeks ago as a friend had an old video recording of it. I was expecting the desensitisation by increasingly scary / brutal / disturbing films over the past 5 years would make it not so harrowing on the second viewing.

I WAS WRONG! This isn't really a horror as the title misleads one into thinking. The climax of the film is very shocking but other than that, it's not a horror. It's a drama about a bullied school boy who uses a hand-held camera to document his experiences, and a very gritty and painfully-real account it is. It was shown at a time when bullying was a major issue in politics. It raised many questions as to who is to blame for bullying and the consequences of bullying.

The format of the film was quite similar to "The Last Broadcast" but (in my opinion anyway) worked much better. The majority of the film is hand-held camcorder footage, the final 10 minutes shows the events that alter took place after the camera is switched off.

The finale of the film is a clever twist on the the events of high-school shootings in America which were subject to a lot of media attention at the time. It left me completely speechless. Aisling O'Sullivan acting was amazing. She had me feeling such sadness and sympathy for her loss, yet at the same time, had me absolutely terrified of her. The very final image the film closes on stuck in my mind for a long time and left a churning in my stomach. It had the same kind of effect on me as "Requiem For A Dream" did, which is saying a lot! Unfortunately, this and the the rest of the "Shockers" series, are not out on DVD. I've emailed Channel 4 but they weren't able to help me. It's a pity because they have received so little publicity, but it was a fantastic series of short film which (at the time anyway) were quite ground-breaking.

A shocking and powerful film about bullying.

[jamesjackson80 · 10/10 · 20 June 2002]

We have all been schoolchildren, so this harrowing story of school bullying tugs at the memories and almost forgotten emotions that we have all experienced. Sympathising with the fatherless bullied child we re-live the experiences we have all to a certain extent felt on the receiving end of taunts, jibes and malicious comments.

Simultaneously we also re-live the harsh remarks we have made to others-- and I personally felt deep guilt about the way in which I treated some of my peers at school. The powerful and malicious mob of half a dozen hardcore bullies is reminiscent of the 'Lord of the Flies' while the ring leader (who is also fatherless) is chilling in his lack of conscience and superb abilities of emotional manipulation.

Much of the film is seen through the lens of a video camera the bullied boy brings to school to-- alas ostentatiously-- record his tormentors. His grim chronicle is thus frighteningly realistic.

Social, emotional and class issues are all alluded to, and we begin to ponder questions such as 'is there a victim mentality?', and 'what makes a bully?'.

But perhaps the most extreme effect of the film is to make us re-examine our prejudices towards the horrific finale to which the film must inevitably lead.

There are few special effects and none of the other pap that clutters most of today's films: this is pure emotion, characterisation and realism, and is absolutely brilliant. I believe it should be shown to every schoolchild in the country.