Warning: Strong and Disturbing Content
A Child Outside
Motherly love can be shown in oh so many ways… even murder.
We don’t like to hear about a young person being hurt, much less witness it. How could a parent ever intentionally harm their own child? Or… kill them? What could possibly possess a parent to perpetrate such a deed?
It’s not easy to portray the unpinning of fundamental societal assumptions, especially when they have to do with family, loyalties or a mother’s unconditional love. Yet, Chris Keaton masterfully does just that in his latest work, A Child Outside.
The main character, Anna, is convinced that mommy knows best, that death is the only option. It’s for their own good. It’s what God would want. And, Anna’s faith is unwavering.
ANNA
I’m sorry sweet baby I should’ve-
She chokes back tears.
ANNA
I should’ve paid attention to the signs…
She whispers a prayer to herself.
ANNA
Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…
Anna appears to be crazy; her daughters so young and innocent.
Short but not at all sweet, Keaton’s very dark A Child Outside comes to a twisted and chilling end: one that will be sure to unsettle any audience’s assumptions about Satan or sanity.
