SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain Asia Argento presents a bleak, disturbing and horrific film. Argento refuses to undermine the story by offering no final solution. The films main purpose is to make the audience feel very uncomfortable. Problems like child abuse are easy to put aside as coverage of real life events must always be handled with tact. Argento goes for a more direct approach. Argento and the boys all give sterling performances, and are aided by a never-ending stream of boyfriends from Manson-Renner. Each of these is not only a credible character by themselves. They also tools to build upon Argento's character. The Sprouse boys have certainly come along way and their performances are intune with each other. Wonderful, but not light, stuff.

OperaLA Even though I had low expectations after the novelist was revealed to be a fraud, I cannot believe how pathetically poor this film is as narrative film-making. Unfortunately, the few positive accounts have been from those who have been "moved" by extremely stylized photography, an irritating soundtrack, and poor acting that has been misinterpreted as "realistic." If there was some story payoff to being made uncomfortable while it unfolds, that would have been something. But there is no payoff.Then then there were the production stories of the on screen drug abuse being a mere shadow of what was happening behind the camera. Apparently, locations were chosen where "local connections" could easily be traded for a chance to "work on a movie." That's just sad.This is not what independent film-making should be.

Robert Vaessen (robsworld) An incredibly raw story, of love and abuse. I had a difficult time watching this heart wrenching movie. The story is one of a small boy who's pulled out of a loving foster home by his natural mother. In the years that follow, the boy endures years of abuse (physical, mental, sexual), drugs, violence and the cruelty of a harsh real world, all for the sake of love. A disturbing plunge into the icy depths of depravity, delusion and despair. The boys mother is damaged goods, who is desperately looking for the same thing the boy craves. The acting, camera work and directing were outstanding, but the subject matter was dark, depressing and demented. I doubt I have the courage to watch this again.

Dxamanda The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things is about a young boy dragged into a world of drugs, sex, and child abuse after his demented mother gains custody of him. That brief synopsis there is enough to drive most movie-goers away. I think this film is unfairly criticized by many as being an exploitive piece of garbage. It also gained a lot of controversy because the author of the book, JT Leroy, is a fake and fabricated everything in the book. Does that mean the book or the film are bad? No. It may not be the story of JT Leroy's life, but it's the story of many victims of child abuse and it's a story that needs to be told.During many parts of this film, it is very hard to watch. The child in this film is mentally and physically abused in one way or another throughout most of it. The film offers no hope or redemption for any of the characters. It is merely a glimpse into what one child's life is like who is constantly abused. And thus, it is utterly depressing. However, if Argento had changed the story to make it an easier to watch, I wouldn't respect the film as much.One critic called Argento's performance "fearless", which I absolutely agree with. She shifts, from scene to scene, from caring mother (her rarest moment), to crazy drug fiend, to a beautiful but completely uninterested, clueless mother. In scenes when she's not verbally or physically abusing her son, she tries to cheer him up (waving a stuffed bunny in his face) or even, though oblivious in how to treat a child, take care of him. She could have played it down, she could have been less vicious, but then she wouldn't have stayed true to the story. She did and her performance is scary, fearless, and in her best moments, heartbreaking.This film is NOT for everyone. I think the person going into the film should keep an open mind and, more importantly, have a strong stomach. Getting back to what I said earlier, I really feel some critics and film fans have criticized the film unfairly because of it's subject matter. However unnecessary and excessive some people think this film is, this is what it's like for many children in America and all throughout the world. It's a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Will this film create anymore psycho parents? I doubt it. Will it raise awareness about the issue? I doubt it; it's a small, independent film shunned by many. It could, it has the possibility of it if people are willing to listen. It certainly does cover the issue enough; depicting child abuse in an unflinching, realistic way.Asia Argento went all out. She adapted, directed, and played the horrific, starring role of a film she probably knew wouldn't be well-received because of it's content. It's obvious that she cared about this project and I think it really comes through in the film, and I greatly admire her for it. 9/10.