Movie Description
Bully is a gritty 2001 crime drama directed by Larry Clark. Based on real events, the film tells the harrowing story of a group of teenagers in South Florida. The film's screenplay, penned by David McKenna (using the alias Zachary Long) and Roger Pullis, is an adaptation of Jim Schutze's book Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge. The movie takes inspiration from the real-life 1993 murder of Bobby Kent, who was killed by seven people in 1993. The cast includes Nick Stahl, Brad Renfro, Bijou Phillips, Michael Pitt, Rachel Miner, Kelli Garner, and Leo Fitzpatrick.
The plot centers around the toxic relationship between Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) and Bobby Kent (Nick Stahl), longtime friends who have an increasingly abusive dynamic. After enduring endless bouts of physical and psychological abuse from Bobby, Marty, along with his girlfriend Lisa (Rachel Miner) and their friends, conspire to murder him.
Exploring themes of toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and the reckless indifference of youth, the film presents a raw and unsettling portrait of adolescent life. With its graphic scenes and controversial themes, Bully offers a chilling examination of violence among teenagers. The movie received mixed reviews, but Roger Ebert gave it four stars for the film's brutal honesty.