Hate Crime (2005) User Reviews

Very good but unsettling

[edrock-3 · 7/10 · 15 August 2005]

I saw this film at the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and found it to be very good (even if sometimes somewhat predictable). Within the first 15 minutes or so, I had figured out who committed the crime.

While I found the film to be of good quality, I also found it to be a bit disturbing.

It seemed to want to show real Christianity as a stark contrast to hate-mongering fundamentalism, and for that it should be praised. But while it took great effort to show that there are Christians who aren't filled with hate and intolerance, it seemed to glorify attempts at revenge. I found the incongruency to be quite disturbing.

It'd be a really good conversation starter.

Movie of the lost potential

[k-eijeriks · 5/10 · 7 January 2012]

For such an important topic as homophobia (and, in general, any kind of fear & aggression towards a certain group of people), this movie does not have any input. In my opinion that is because it is so painfully stereotypical! The gay couple consists of two quite rich, handsome, big-hearted and loving each other madly men. Gentle, soft, sincere, helpful - all what's best in a human. What is worst in us is represented by the characters of gay-haters. They are all double-faced, buttoned-up till their necks (and I mean also the clothes they wear), always making evil faces and keeping their muscles in amazingly visible tension. Especially the preacher's son seems to me like a parody of himself. Just like in a Bollywood movie: his eyebrows look very angry, so that you don't miss, he is very angry. Add some angry music in the background and it's ready: he is very angry. Put one stereotype against another, and is becomes comic rather than dramatic. Also, the depth of a relationship between preacher and his son is lost. And it's a shame, that could bring more light to what happens. Why does suddenly a detective with a camera appear to follow the son? (BTW, the movie have few more logic gaps, e.g. no password for a computer if you want to hide something really really "nasty" and "perverted"). Despite the shallow treatment of the gay-haters topic, it is worth to see the movie for it's way of playing with silence and for it's beautiful pictures. I really thought I felt the atmosphere of that town. Beautiful and touching. Unfortunately, the way of talking about the hate-crime did not touch me. It just happened, because one side was good and the other was bad. Black & white world, just like in conservative minds.

Hopefully this is not a predictor of the future.

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 January 2015]

I recognized a whole lot of character types in Hate Crime as I watched this film. It ought to be shown to various police departments as part of LGBT sensitivity training.

Seth Petersen and Brian Smith are a gay pair who have a new neighbor move next door. When he finds out that Petersen and Smith are lovers Chad Donella becomes downright hostile. He's the son of local preacher Bruce Davision who takes his theology from the Fred Phelps school.

While planning a commitment ceremony and remember this 2005 and Texas did not have same sex marriage legal then, Smith goes out walking their dog one night and never returns. He's found unconscious in the park as Matthew Shepard was and dies a few days later in the hospital in Dallas.

The original cop on the case Farah White realizes this is a hate crime, but when it goes to homicide the new lead detective Giancarlo Esposito starts working on a new theory that Petersen killed his partner for the insurance.

Back in my working days at Crime Victims Board in New York State I had a double claim for a lesbian couple. One was wounded and the other killed in a break in robbery. The cops in the Brooklyn precinct where this happened insisted it was something cooked up by the surviving partner and my agency would not pay because of that. By dumb luck they caught a burglar on another case and he confessed to the homicide and the other shooting as well. I can totally sympathize with the frustration that Petersen and Cindy Pickett, Smith's mother must have felt that led them to do what they did. Oh, we did eventually pay our wounded victim.

It's good to remember that this is Texas where gun laws as we know are loose and the right to bear arms is held sacred. My attitude has always been that I've paid for the burial of a couple thousand homicide victims in my 23 years at CVB. Gun control to me seems a no brainer. But God help us if in the LGBT community we ever do an about face and decide maybe bearing arms is in our interest. Seeing what I've seen I'm amazed that something like what unfolds here hasn't happened in real life.

As it turns out Chad Donella is a closet case and hates himself for it. Are there straight viewers of this film out there who don't think this is a recurring story? I give you Ronald Crumpley who one night in December of 1980 who was a closet case himself took an Uzi and shot several people congregating in front of the Ramrod and Sneakers bar on West Street in New York City. I two of those cases myself back in the day in my second year of service at the agency.

This is a fine film and one can only that it is not a predictor of the future.

You can see it on Netflix!

[zakzoah · 7/10 · 11 June 2007]

I saw "Hate Crime" on Netflix's Watch Now feature.

It's under the Gay/Lesbian movies section.

Loved the film.

I love when a film about a gay couple feels like the couple really loves each other.

Some films think holding hands is enough. I could see that Trey and Robbie loved each other.

Great cast. Even the less experienced actors held their own.

Tight directing and good cinematography for a first timer. You could see that they had a small budget but it didn't affect the look or performances.

I grew up in Plano, TX so I identified with the whole script.

Some stereotypes, but a twist in the end

[mindcat · 7/10 · 30 May 2008]

I personally enjoyed this flick, since gay in society are targeted everyday and in some Islamic ones executed. The world and humanity in general have far to go in live and let live.

Now, as for the flick the two young gay men were not the bigot's stereotype, a half male half female person dressing in feather.

The two young professionals appear to love each other, but the script and theme of the flick don't really allow very much character development. Maybe this is comparing grapes with bananas, but this is not Brokeback Mountain.

The twist in the end may leave some persons such as myself wondering if justice was really done. It amounted to a slick vigilantism, but gave the story a satirical irony all its own.

You more than likely will find this an OK movie, not a great one. See it anyway on DVD.

Try to survive the first half hour

[Ismaninb · 7/10 · 31 July 2011]

Within 5 minutes I thought: bleeh, sentimental crap. Perfectly nice normal gay couple, everybody in the neighborhood behaves normal too, the weather is bright, then an intolerant neighbor - from one of those extreme right Christian churches - moves in and things go wrong. Cry, cry. Well, not exactly. Things become more complicated, there are two nice twists and there is a quite satisfactory revenge. As the movie continues the scenes become more challenging, the characters more realistic and the acting better. Hate Crime is far from perfect - a lot of criticism in other reviews is correct. Still it's worth seeing once. Just make sure you survive the cringing beginning.

This movie comes straight from the "stereotypical menu"

[papillonnoir-89059 · 2/10 · 27 June 2021]

Come on; this movie has no original though to it. The two, really nice gay neighbors with one not wanting to be affectionate in public, the pastor's son who hates homosexuals but is also a hypocrite, the Pastor who lives in a mansion who's also a chauvinist and a hypocrite, the passive pastor's wife and mother, the fiesty older woman and neighbor with a filthy mouth...shall I go on? This movie has a lot of bloopers so, of course, bad editing. I can tell this is the Director"s first movie and the Producer's first writing because it definitely shows. The well-known actors either took on the roles of the characters because A: they thought the could add credibility to this crap; B: they needed the money or C: they were blackmailed with some really good that they didn't want revealed. Do yourself a favor, don't watch this but if you do, just don't expect much. Why did the other viewers rate this so high? I don't get it.

An engaging and thought provoking film.

[kmulhare · 10/10 · 5 May 2005]

This evening, I had the privilege of viewing Hate Crime at a limited (one night only) engagement in Phoenix, Arizona. It is unfortunate that this outstanding film does not yet have a distributor. I would definitely recommend it to friends and co-workers.

This is an extraordinarily well written and well executed film. Although Hate Crime would obviously attract a gay audience, its appeal is so much broader than that. I've seen too many "gay" themed films which suffer from weak scripts and predictable outcomes. In stark contrast, this film is engaging, intelligent and suspenseful.

Hate Crime side-steps the political hype and focuses on the very real and personal consequences of the subject matter. The characters are people you care about – trying to cope with a terrible tragedy. They are flawed. They are "flesh and blood". They are not stereotypes. The cast – comprised of veteran actors and some newcomers – provides a universally outstanding performance.

The production value is excellent. (This film has been produced in High Definition and the effort is well worth it – even to the untrained eye.) The score is suspenseful and complements the story line.

I cannot recommend this film highly enough. I hope that as it is shown by way of other limited engagements, it will be picked up for distribution so it can be viewed by the much larger audience it well deserves!

Fair

[jzappa · 6/10 · 29 November 2006]

Hate Crime did have my complete interest and care for its characters and it did make me cry like a small child with a freshly skinned knee. Its status as a direct-to-video production did not exactly maintain that grace. What I described in my first sentence here is a film that satisfied three major and vital departments as an audience. There are much better films that should do such a good job making us care, making us cry, but unfortunately this is not a better film.

One of its major detractions is in the acting. Seth Peterson, who stars, is off the hook with me, because he was very convincing and the only actor in the film that was not so stilted and did not make every line so visibly scripted. Even Lin Saye, whose past credits include the hilariously disgusting landlord in Kingpin and the eavesdropping chain-smoking neighbor in There's Something About Mary, loosens the film's grip on you. This can be bearable until the stomach- churningly misfired dramatic scene between Cindy Pickett and Sean Hennigan, where their painfully insecure deliveries are further crippled by the stale and two-dimensionally written scene.

See, while the movie is very enjoyable, it carries some of the stereotypes of direct-to-video productions. On the bright side, it's one more movie for people to see about homophobia and its often devastating effects, it's one more movie to satisify those who have an appetite for vindication and comeuppance, and it fulfills those three said vital elements of watching a movie.

What a drab movie...

[donaldsmedley · 2/10 · 8 December 2007]

For movie night tonight we have chosen Hate Crime. What a disappointing and lack luster movie this turned out to be. I have lost 100mins of my life that i will never get back. To its credit there are some positives: * Gay characters that fit into society like in reality. They aren't cliché queenies. * A clever twist to finish it off. Now why didn't they put this creativity into the other 80mins of the movie. * Closets are usually gay themselves. I love this revelation and believe this to be true in most instances of homophobia. A great expose of the psychological dynamics of straight s who hate gays.

Now the negatives: * The movie evolves so slow i started to focus on the irritating texture of the couch covers i was sitting on while watching this. * Characters lack depth, i had no emotional connection. So when the tragic pivotal event occurred I decided to make a cup of coffee. * Its like a B grade thriller. With little build up and suspense. I was never participating in the movie itself. * This movie's content is created by the intolerance of one way of thought to another. Yet portrays intolerance itself in it's journey. ie. Church mongers hate gays. Horrible events occur. Church people are closeted gays who hate gays!.

As a gay man this film has a responsibility because of its content which it clearly ignores. "I don't put down others to make myself feel better".

The content base is controversial. Though this movie is not the movie to depict it. Stay Clear...

Suspenseful, thought-provoking

[aawenzler · 10/10 · 25 January 2005]

This movie explores the dark side of religion--in this case, how hatred of gays can disrupt and even devastate people's lives. It is a very thought-provoking movie, and provides a perspective on how people become "gay bashers"...even, and especially, those who consider themselves Christians. One scene was exceptionally well developed and produced which explores how the same issue can be so differently viewed when coming from a place of love versus a place of fear.

The actors are all very believable and effective in their roles, but I must give a "hats off" to Pastor Boyd, Trey's mother and the Neighbor Woman...they really give exceptional performances.

The music score really helps build the suspense in a very subtle way, and was supportive of the meaning of the movie throughout. I found myself thinking about the movie, different scenes, parts of the dialog...for DAYS afterward. It really made me examine my values and honestly explore how I would react in the same situation. And that, to me, is what good movie-making is all about.

Predictable but touching

[qui_j · 6/10 · 30 October 2020]

The movie has a very simple and predictable script. However, it's very emotional and ends up being not a bad movie to watch. Does show the power of love.....and hate!

Big audience - Good movie - Bad ending

[trouserarouser2 · 4/10 · 5 May 2005]

I was rooting for the film in the beginning. The entire cast was terrific. The production was very good quality.

I did not like the end of the movie because it showed the violent bloody beating in the park. The enthusiasm and mood of the audience dropped noticeably. Many turned their heads away, gasped, or covered their eyes. The film would have been as powerful without the unnecessary gore. That dropped my rating considerably.

I also did not like it because the characters tried to solve the original hate crime by committing multiple crimes including assault, violating a restraining order, trespassing, breaking and entering, property theft, illegal taping, kidnapping, murder, and lying to law enforcement. They avenged a hate crime by committing another hate crime.

The movie sends the wrong message to straight people - it encourages them to commit hate crimes.

The movie sends the wrong message to gay people - it encourages them to use illegal acts to seek retribution.

I saw the movie at the Phoenix screening May 4, 2005.

well made, informative yet entertaining movie

[wellness-2 · 7 March 2005]

This is a very well made, informative yet entertaining movie. It is seamless. The subject is timely. It brought out many of today's family issues in a very tasteful and educational manner. The love scenes are tasteful and added to the character and theme development. The juxtaposition of conflicting Christian ideology -- and how these influence behavior -- is brilliant!. The acting is sensational -- real; I never "caught" anyone acting, I had to go to the bathroom bad...but I couldn't leave. The ending was my only disappointment. Because the film was educational and presented gay relationship and the character of the men involved on such a high ground, I didn't believe the ending. It seemed to me a questionable way for that young man to put his intelligence to work. It would have been more instructive (to the society at large and the gay community) if the young man had contrived a non-violent and more unique kind of social scheme to accomplish justice

However, this did not dampen my admiration for the work. I hope Tommy Stovall has another one up his sleeve

Liked It!

[vengeance20 · 7/10 · 7 May 2022]

Never heard of this film, but got it on DVD to watch as it sounded interesting.

The film sees a gay, Robbie and Trey who's neighbour Christopher, is homophobic. One night, Trey gets attacked and eventually dies from brain hemorage. His boyfriend, Robbie goes out to find vigilante justice for his former lover who was brutally attacked and killed.

I found the film to be pretty good. While it may be considered predictable, it doesn't take away from the entertainment value of the story, characters and scenarios that are presented. The story sucks you in and you keep watching and watching to see what happens next. It does drag at points and is a bit long at 95 minutes.

Overall, it's pretty decent. Don't expect to much and you'll enjoy. I myself and others who like films like this will be entertained.

7/10.

Dumb and dumber...

[AndytheDirector · 1/10 · 29 May 2006]

I projected this movie last year when it was shown at a film fest I was working at. This is THE STUPIDEST type of movie I have ever seen. It's a Lifetime Channel movie, only with a vengeful lover instead of a vengeful wife. If there was just one substitution made, the gay couple for an interracial couple, you would have a terrible wannabe social commentary film.

The film follows Robbie, who's lover Trey is bludgeoned with a baseball bat one night, as he tries to solve the crime and prove it was his hyper-Evangelic loony neighbor. What follows is a bunch of conundrums wrapped in a McGuffin of an idiotic ending. If this movie was trying to make a point in the pantheon of gay cinema, its that there can be moronic thrillers that play on stereotypes from gay people too. If you want a good movie, see something else. If you want to have you want a hate crime committed on you so to end the pain of this mind-numbing dreck, rent this idiotic mystery.

Very polished first film.

[bradford-5 · 8/10 · 5 May 2005]

I just returned from a screening of Hate Crime.

Badger pester and cajole your local art house, film series or festival to book this film. I went in expecting sort of the same tired, cliché driven gay theme film we are so used to seeing, especially from first time writer directors. But not only is it very accomplished as a film, the script is excellent, and ultimately not predictable, though several times during, you will be certain you will know what will happen next--and proved wrong. Most of the actors are new faces, at least for me, and all are good to excellent, primarily the leads.

Not only is the dialog impressive, I enjoyed how this director wasn't afraid of unspoken silences, and holding a moment or scene, letting it play out.

I wish i could get a tax receipt

[f-meikle · 1/10 · 16 August 2006]

I saw this movie tonight. Thank god it was for a good cause ACOL in London Ontario. This movie was awful, every stereotype of gay men relationships and homophobia was trotted out so that somehow people might be able to identify with the characters. What a load of crap. What's even more annoying is that some will say oh you should support it cus its gay themed. BS I should support it because its good, it has value, not because of the subject matter. It's a damm shame is all I can say cus this subject has a great deal of potential and it could have been a great movie but alas it wasn't. Wow now they want me to rant on here for 10 lines about a movie that well frankly doesn't quite deserve that much attention, so I'll fill with nothing but this nonsensical crap. Crap on crap i guess the theme is.

Thoroughly Enjoyable - Deserves Distribution

[christinal44 · 9/10 · 11 May 2005]

I saw this film as part of a niche festival in Scottsdale, AZ. And I am very grateful. Because had I not been notified by a friend, through word-of-mouth, I would not have known. That is my biggest concern. This film should be 'Out There' for all to see.

The production value is top-notch - as good as you would see in any Hollywood movie - and better than most that you would see on t.v.

The casting choices, and the acting, were perfect for the portrayal of the characters.

The story was well crafted.

And, most importantly, the messages were universal.

I personally believe that all would benefit from this film inasmuch as I believe that all would benefit from watching 'Angels in America'. Yes, the premise is based on intolerance directed against a very likable, same-sex couple, and the subsequent effects that reverberate through the lives of their respective families and friends as a result. But I did not see this as a gay film. The messages are cross-applicable and universal. I would hate to see this film pigeon-holed. Its messages are not delivered as ham-handedly as 'Angels in America'. It is easy to watch, enjoyable and thought-provoking.

I laughed, I cried, and I cheered out loud.

It is a situational drama. And hopefully in the end the audience will ask not only 'was this right' but: 'If placed in such a situation, for whatever reason, what would I do?'

Badly written, over zealous nonsense.

[Tulpa_Memnon · 4/10 · 2 October 2020]

I'm not entirely sure why this has garnered so many favourable reviews? A good cast are sadly misused by an atrocious script. A single episide of Columbo maybe. Without Peter Falk.

Hate Crimes was a story of the present day "civil rights" :

[texasjoe48 · 5/10 · 31 March 2005]

I was part of the Dallas filming with Bruce Davison in the fundamental church scenes. Bruce was really great as a southern-style preacher. During the filming in Dallas, a storm broke outside, and wind blew the front doors open. Lightning struck just outside the building, and for a moment we all stood in awe as Bruce's performance of a fiery sermon was accented by some serious lightning. We had goose bumps because it was a wonder how it all came together in that particular "take." Some great special effects was the icing on the cake. I feel that too often religion gets the blame for people's bad actions, and reactions to things that they do not agree with. It is their lack of understanding of both life in general, and their ignorance of what the Bible says. I have read the Bible a number of times over the past 30 years and it warns against a number of things as being unhealthy, and bad choices as far as lifestyles. If a grown person chooses to be a homosexual, well then it is their adult choice to do so. I do not agree with that life style, but it is a grown person's choice, and they have to deal with the problems that come with it, just like any other relationship. People try to blame religion for hate crimes, and the ignorance related to it. (Romans Chapter One warns against it, and it is between you and God what you do.) Anybody else, that is your grown up choice, no matter your lifestyle. I was young during the time of the Civil Rights movement, (and it seems that many people these days confuse Civil Rights with lifestyle choices.) It is my right to be Native American, (or what ever race you belong to), but any choice I make as far as sexual that goes outside the confines of what is acceptable does not make it my right do so, or rub people's faces in it in public, and not face some kind of backlash. It does not make it right to do so, weather straight or gay to hurt someone and blame religion. Blame ignorance, not the Bible. Still, I would have you see this movie as a way for you to learn an important lesson about a different lifestyle.

You can pre-order HATE CRIME DVD on AMAZON.COM. It comes out soon...

Solid story from a first-time director

[la_princessa_tx · 8/10 · 18 February 2005]

This is a solid story from first-time director, Tommy Stovall. I like to be surprised with twists in dramatic films, such as this, and the first half of the film led me to believe that there wouldn't be any. Oh, but there was! I'm not one to spoil a good plot twist so I'll leave you all to see it for yourself, but know that it was a pretty decent twist. There was one point in the film where I actually cheered out loud in the theater because Stovall did such a great job of developing his main character, Robbie, played by Seth Peterson, he made you really love it when good things happened. One scene I particularly enjoyed was the church scene - CREATIVELY executed.

The story is a very serious topic - one that would generally make me uncomfortable watching, but it was put together well and for a small budget project, turned out great.

The only major criticisms I had were 1) the acting of the primary child actor was not fabulous - there's a crying scene that's hard to take serious because you can tell he's "acting" and 2) Robbie's colorful neighbor character didn't seem as developed as you'd have thought she should have been. She was cute and funny, but it seemed like she was missing an endearing scene or two to help build her relationship between her and her neighbors, who she considered family.

Seth Peterson, Farah White, Brandy Little, Cindy Pickett and Bruce Davision were particularly good in this film. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this film a 7.5 to 8. Go see it, the subject alone and how it's dealt with should be seen by everyone. Hate is not a family value. Thank you Tommy, for making this film.

One of the Best Films I have seen at the Philadelphia Film Festival Ever!!

[tjstoys2003 · 10/10 · 9 July 2005]

I just got back from watching the film. It was Amazing!!! The Story, The Acting, The Directing, The Sound, and Cinematography it was all Perfect. Yes there was that one scene that was so intense that I wished it wasn't there but I think that it was because it was done so well that it was to real for me. I just have to commend everyone associated with this film. Please I know that it is sometimes hard to get a small budget movie a DVD/Video Release but you must, you just have too. Everyone that has ever been in Love with someone to the point you would do anything for them has to see this film. I have been going to the film festival here in Philly for a decade now and have seen about 100 movies in those years and this is Top 5 with out a doubt.

An excellent movie about a hate crime and revenge

[mrgregoc · 8/10 · 5 May 2005]

A great story and some fine acting made this more than just a movie about an anti-gay hate crime. Seth Peterson gave an excellent performance as Robbie, struggling to find out the truth about who beat and killed Trey. Cindy Pickett's portrayal of Trey's mother Barbara is full of anger and pain, and Bruce Davison's as Pastor Boyd overflows with hellfire and venom; two of the best performances I've seen so far this year. Giancarlo Esposito's as Detective Esposito fell a bit flat. His character came across very one dimensional - both as it was written and acted - and his reasons behind his lack of action were never really explained. But perhaps that's just from my having seen so many episodes of CSI. Everything else about the movie was fantastic. Stovall's well-written story could have stuck with the melodrama of a family coping with their son's death but instead turns the plot towards revenge with the last 20 minutes of the film being completely riveting.

I usually don't comment much on how a movie is edited, but one scene in particular stands out to me: after Trey's death, two different church services are held, one at Trey's church and one at Pastor Boyd's. Trey's church is full of light, and Father Tim speaks of the love that God has for everyone; Boyd's church is decorated in dark woods, and pastor Boyd speaks of how God has decreed that two men laying together is an abomination. The two very different churches battle against one another thanks to fine editing from Darrin Navarro, showing how the same words can be interpreted in different ways.

Excellent Movie!

[Xeos131 · 10/10 · 4 May 2005]

I came out of this movie completely amazed. Every part of this film was done very well. The combination of: the superb acting by all the players, the score and sound editing, the well-shot cinematography and the great film quality from the HD camera they used really worked for bringing this memorable film together. I was taken more at back when the writer said, in a Q&A after the showing I saw here in Phoenix, that this was his first attempt at writing a screenplay and it only took him 16-18 months to write the script. Hearing that really encourages other people who dream of becoming a screenwriter. If you get a chance to see this movie, go see it!