Joshua Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A weird kid gets a sibling and decides to spice things up with some light familial chaos because baby sisters are overrated, especially if you’re a piano prodigy with a penchant for unsettling stares.

🍿 Joshua: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A New Arrival and Shifting Family Dynamics

The film introduces the Cairn family: Brad, a successful stockbroker; Abby, his wife; and their gifted nine-year-old son, Joshua. Their seemingly perfect life is disrupted by the birth of their daughter, Lily. Joshua, an intelligent and refined child, struggles with the shift in attention, leading to subtle but unsettling changes in his behavior.

Escalating Incidents and Growing Suspicion

As Lily’s incessant crying pushes Abby to the brink of a nervous breakdown, a series of disturbing events occur. The family dog dies, Abby’s mother-in-law suffers a fatal accident, and strange drawings emerge. Brad becomes increasingly suspicious of Joshua’s involvement, noticing patterns and subtle manipulations that point toward his son’s malevolence.

Confrontation and the Loss of Control

Brad’s growing paranoia leads him to consult a child psychologist, but Joshua cleverly manipulates the situation, further fueling the suspicion of abuse. In a moment of frustration and anger, Brad loses control and strikes Joshua in public, solidifying the perception of him as an abusive parent. Abby, overwhelmed and mentally unstable, leaves the family, leaving Brad to grapple with his increasingly disturbing son.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Joshua Cairn (Jacob Kogan): A highly intelligent but increasingly disturbed nine-year-old boy who resents the attention his newborn sister receives and manipulates his family.
• Brad Cairn (Sam Rockwell): The workaholic father struggling to balance his career and family life as his son’s behavior becomes increasingly concerning.
• Abby Cairn (Vera Farmiga): The emotionally fragile mother battling postpartum depression and struggling to cope with her children’s needs.
• Ned Davidoff (Dallas Roberts): Abby’s brother and Joshua’s confidant, who offers him a different perspective and becomes entangled in Joshua’s scheme.
• Hazel Cairn (Celia Weston): Brad’s devoutly religious mother who tries to help the family but falls victim to Joshua’s manipulations.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Joshua: “Mommy? Daddy? I love you.” – Said in a flat, affectless tone, highlighting Joshua’s lack of genuine emotion and making it unsettling to his parents.
• Homeless Man: “Can you help me out, little man? Just something. Anything. I’m no chooser here.” – A homeless man asks Joshua for spare change in the street.
• Joshua: “I’ll give you five dollars if you let me throw a rock at you.” – Joshua’s response to the homeless man’s request demonstrates his manipulative and detached nature.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6 million
• Domestic Gross: $482,355
• Worldwide Gross: $719,968

💥 Joshua Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie expecting just another creepy kid horror flick, but ‘Joshua’ totally messed with my head. The way the film builds up the tension is insane, and you’re constantly questioning whether Joshua is actually evil or just a product of his environment. I felt so much sympathy for Sam Rockwell’s character, trying to navigate this family falling apart. That scene where he loses it in the park? Gut-wrenching. Honestly, it’s not a fun watch, but it’s a film that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in complex family dynamics”
  • “Those who appreciate subtle horror over gore”
  • “Audiences who enjoy Sam Rockwell and Vera Farmiga’s performances”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of child manipulation”
  • “Disturbing behavior”
  • “Brief scene of violence”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Sundance Film Review: “A smart, unsettling thriller that slowly peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect family, exposing the darkness within. Vera Farmiga delivers a standout performance as a mother on the edge, while Jacob Kogan is chilling as the precocious Joshua. A haunting exploration of familial dysfunction, psychological horror at its finest.
• IndieWire: “More than just a horror film, ‘Joshua’ is a character study of a neglected child’s descent into manipulation and madness. The slow burn pacing and ambiguous ending may frustrate some, but the performances, particularly Sam Rockwell’s portrayal of a father struggling to understand his son, are captivating.
• New York Times: “Director George Ratliff crafts a suspenseful atmosphere, but ‘Joshua’ ultimately suffers from a lack of resolution. While the performances are strong and the premise intriguing, the film leaves too many questions unanswered, resulting in a somewhat unsatisfying experience.

Audience Reactions

Jacob Kogan’s unsettling performance as Joshua is absolutely unforgettable.: Viewers praised the film’s slow-burn tension and the performances of the lead actors, particularly Jacob Kogan and Vera Farmiga.

The film is brilliantly creepy. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.: Audience appreciated that Joshua didn’t rely on gore, instead creating the suspense with the eerie atmosphere.

Overall Consensus: A disturbing psychological thriller with strong performances and a slow-burn pace that explores themes of familial dysfunction and the nature of evil, though its ambiguous ending may divide audiences.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The role of Joshua’s younger sibling, Lily, was played by the real-life newborn sibling of Jacob Kogan, which added to the realism of the family dynamic.”
• “Director George Ratliff had previously directed the documentary ‘Hell House,’ which explored fundamentalist Christian beliefs. This background influenced the portrayal of the religious grandmother character in ‘Joshua’.”
• “The film won the Best Cinematography Award at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, highlighting the visual tension created through the use of color and claustrophobic environments.”

🖥️ How to Watch Joshua?

The Devil’s Child (Joshua) is available for streaming purchase or rental on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred digital retailer for availability and pricing. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray may also be available from online retailers like Amazon and at local stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Joshua, you might like these similar films:

• The Omen (1976): Features a young boy who is seemingly evil and brings misfortune and death to those around him.
• The Good Son (1993): Explores the theme of a seemingly innocent child with sociopathic tendencies who manipulates and endangers those around him.
• We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011): A psychological thriller that delves into the disturbing relationship between a mother and her troubled son, exploring themes of parental anxiety and the potential for childhood malevolence.
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Deals with the paranoia and disintegration of a family, with the suspicion that the child is evil at the core.

🛒 Joshua Related Products

• The Omen (1976) [Blu-ray]: A classic demonic child horror film that explores similar themes of evil in children and parental fears. The Omen offers a thrilling cinematic experience with a classic horror plot. For those who liked Joshua, The Omen provides a thrilling cinematic experience with a classic horror plot.
• Rosemary’s Baby (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: Roman Polanski’s masterpiece explores similar themes of paranoia and motherhood, combined with an undercurrent of the occult. Fans of ‘Joshua’ will appreciate the slow-burn tension and unsettling atmosphere.
• The Exorcist [Blu-ray]: Classic horror movie featuring the demonic posession of a child. The movie has long been considered a benchmark for the psychological horror genre.
• Steinway & Sons: Since 1853: A beautiful and lavishly illustrated book on the story of Steinway Pianos.

🎧 Soundtrack

Joshua features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 – Marcia Funebre (Sulla Morte d’un Eroe)” – performed by Ludwig van Beethoven
• “Original Score Compositions” – performed by Nico Muhly

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Book of Genesis Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1)

Ever wondered about the real story behind the Book of Genesis? This animated summary breaks it down in a super engaging way. Honestly, it’s way more interesting than you might think!

Book of Joshua Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Want to know what happened after Genesis? This video summarizes the Book of Joshua with cool animations! It’s a must-watch to understand the bigger picture—seriously, the animation style is pretty neat.

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