American History X/YMMV

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• Complete Monster: Since much of the rest of his screentime got cut, Henry might look like one at first. After all, Danny confronted him to defend a kid he was bullying... and got shot in return. Fridge Brilliance kicks in when you realize he was pressured to do so.
• Crosses the Line Twice: Seth's white supremacist rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The lyrics are hateful and racist, but Seth's exuberance while singing makes it uncomfortably amusing.
  • Even worse, that's an actual song by Johnny Rebel.
• Crowning Moment of Funny: in Derek's prison flashbacks where we expect to see him come up against the black gangs for his actions outside - 'Don't fuck with me, 'aight? 'Cause I'm the most dangerous man in this prison. You know why? 'Cause I control the underwear.'
• Fridge Brilliance: This is mostly in the script and cut from the movie. Danny is an impressionable kid who follows Derek's lead. Henry, the black kid who Danny has a conflict with at school, was pressured into it by his big brother (who he seems to idolize). He's in the exact same position as Danny.
• Heartwarming Moments/Funny Moments: The "angry sex" conversation.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Cameron's joke to Derek at the party.

Cameron: Come on, you don't have to watch your ass in here.

• Misaimed Fandom: In spite of the film's anti-racist message, it still has a large number of Neo-Nazi fans. See Do Not Do This Cool Thing.
• Nightmare Fuel:
  • Though not directly seen, the infamous curb stomp will haunt your nightmares long after the credits.
  • As will the expression on Derek's face as he's being arrested, smiling as if he had done nothing wrong.
  • A gang of jack-booted, stocking-capped thugs storm your home and trash it while telling you to "go home". They drag your cashier onto the counter and drown her with milk until she's white. If you don't want to become white, they have baseball bats to convince you to try.
• Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped: There is still a shockingly high number of Neo-Nazi's both in California and Tony Kaye's native England. There's no other way to say it, either; racism is a pointlessly destructive thing.
• Squick: Derek curb-stomping the black guy to death.
• Tear Jerker: The ending, so very much. And the flashback.