The movie “Monster” leaves a viewer with the controversial thoughts about the focus of the film. On one hand – it is more than obvious that Aileen Wuornos, the former prostitute, has been justly condemned to the death sentence, taking to the consideration all the murders she has committed. On the other hand – Aileen Wuornos’s conscious has been harmfully injured after being repeatedly raped by her father’s friend. This so – called “event” has marked the beginning of her hate towards men. The catalyst, which has led to much deeper mental disorder and to murders as a disclosure of it, was when she has been raped by one of her clients. So, her model of behavior can be explained; however, it doesn’t exculpate it. Consequently, the key issue of the film is unhealthy sexual actions, such as rape, which causes deeply harmful effect – physical and moral. (Jenkins, Monster)
The film “Monster” is also representing such policy issue as Police Use of Force and Accountability. In terms of the movie, the concept “force” must be understood as the misuse of power in the mercenary purposes. This statement finds its confirmation in the scene with Aileen and the policeman, who by lying her about the number of complaints about her, made her get into the car and then forced Wuornos to oral sex, knowing that she would do nothing about it. The nowadays world knows a number of such accidents, when people are becoming unprotected, knowing that there is no way out of such kind of situations with the misusage of power, and, which is even worse, no chances of winning over such injustice. (Jenkins, Monster)
Also, the movie “Monster” contains visual information on some particular criminological theories, and the main one here is, of course, the psychological theory. The psychological theory looks to the psychological functioning, in order to explain the deviant model of behavior; under this concept, the act of crime is a key one only if it proves the mental issue or disorder. In the case with Aileen, the psychological theory enables criminologists to explain the origins of her deviant behavior: her mental health has been damaged by the actions of rape in her childhood; consequently, this laid the beginning of her specific anti – social model of behavior. In the case with Aileen, the psychological theory may be tightly connected with the social learning theory, which finds the reasons, motifs and the origins of the deviant behavior in the fact that it has been acquired or changed under the process of interaction with people. Here, the concept of “interaction” – is the sexual contacts back in her childhood. (Jenkins, Monster)
Basically, the movie “Monster” gives a great food for thoughts for the viewer, leading him or her to the controversial thoughts and conclusions, regarding the victim – offender issue. As it was mentioned previously in the paper, Aileen may be considered as both – offender and, first of all, the victim. As with the flow of the plot Aileen, step – by – step, opens story of her life, the transformation of her physical and, what is more important, mental state from being a victim to offender becomes evident. By shooting her client, she has opened the door in her consciousness, behind which the memories of those horrible days from childhood and all those emotions have been hidden for so many years. She felt a relief though the revenge. (Jenkins, Monster)
As a conclusion, it is important to mention the movie “Monster” leaves the viewer in controversial thoughts, regarding the story, shown on the screen. Considering the fact that it is biographical film, it is worth mentioning that the story looked realistic indeed. On the other hand, “Monster” can be a useful in terms of psychological and criminological studies.
Works cited:
Monster. Dir. Patty Jenkins. Perf. Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci. Newmarket Films, 2003. DVD.
