Joshua

Joshua is a 2007 American psychological horror/thriller film about an affluent young Manhattan family and how they are torn apart by the increasingly sadistic behavior of their disturbed son, Joshua. The film was directed by George Ratliff and stars Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga and Jacob Kogan. It was released on July 6, 2007 in the United States.

This Page contains examples of:

Ambiguously Gay:
- Uncle Ned is this, (the actor Dallas Roberts is typecast as gay despite being straight in real life; any non-gay role he plays inevitably has a bit of this trope)
- Some see Joshua as this even though he's only 9
Children Are Innocent: No they're not. One of the taglines is even: "Not all children are innocent"
Creepy Child: the titular character
Dawson Casting: 12 year old Jacob Kogan plays 9 year old Joshua.
Failed a Spot Check: kid throws his grandmother down the stairs in a public place in broad daylight. Witnesses...
Hey Its That Guy:
- Vera Farmiga who plays the mom in Joshua also plays the mom in Orphan'. Coincidentally both characters have their share of mental instability problems and at odds with their mother-in-law
- Also Star Trek fans may recognize Joshua as playing Young Spock in the 2009 film. Oddly enough, Young Kirk was played by Jimmy Bennett who played Vera's non-evil son in the other evil kid movie she was in.
Kick the Dog: Well ambiguously be the reason the dog is found dead.
Kudzu Plot: A fair few of the hints the film gives to explain things just raise further questions.
- The baby cries all night because Joshua was messing with it then running away. We learn this because Joshua taped himself doing it... Why the hell did Joshua tape himself doing it?
Lack of Empathy: Joshua
The Plan: All of Joshua's actions are to have him sent to live with his uncle.
Shout Out:
- Joshua throwing up at the start suggests the "peeing on the rug" scene from The Exorcist.
- The inter-titles showing the span of time (each marked by a piano chord) suggest the passing of the days in The Shining.