.Original pre conceptions of the film were that it would be very similar to the film kids, which shared similar themes of underage sex and violence. On first viewing thoughts changed as the film starts with a recollection of a hurricane and someone’s experience and the details are very vivid and quite disturbing. There is a lot of found footage and it adds elements, as there are individual stories, which don’t relate to the characters at all. For example there is a memory of a 4 year old being sexually abused and her experience is quite unsettling. There are more documentary elements to the film than realism. There are a lot of unsettling themes like rape, referencing insanity and use of drugs. There is also an instance of underage sex and cat murder. Both of which are sensitive subjects and some tastes may not agree with the themes involved but it appeals to a certain audience. Many stereotypes are involved such as the typical southern American ‘white trash ‘. The film highlights the lower classes as it portrays poverty and boredom within society especially within young teenagers. Many of the themes are shown just to seem controversial and many scenes are irrelevant and are not needed, although it adds an element of individuality to the film it is not necessary. Many comments about child rape are distasteful and offensive and to be frank they are not relevant to the narrative or the plot. The film is offensive in some ways as the stereotypes of the people and how they are betrayed are very negative, for example not every child goes around shooting stray cats. Many of the filming techniques are derived from many different types and subgenres of media. There is lots of subliminal messages and physiological instances in Gummo as there is lots of distorted voices and memories of burning cats and a child playing on a bridge, doing adult things with children’s music in the background. If the shock imagery was used in an way to build up a connection between the audience and the characters but moving between a variety of characters is confusing and at some points not needed. The plot Is very disorganised, with a film like tis the characters are isolated with themselves and don’t interact with other people in or out of the community. There is no sympathy for characters or support as you cant as there is not enough character development and it is confusing. There is more focus on artistic imagery then there is on building characters. Some of the acting is questionable and it is hard to tell if some scenes were scripted or improvised, as some scenes were boring in an acting sense.