Welcome to This Week’s Short Horror Film Friday featuring DUEL (2018) by Writer, Producer, Filmmaker, Visual Storyteller, Art Director Justin Staggs. Staggs Before forging a Career as a Writer and Director of Films and Television He Created Several Dozen Music Videos for such Bands as The Foo Fighters, NOFX, and Against Me! just to Name a Few.
Plot Summery: A Child Psychologist attempts to Breakthrough to a Troubled Little Boy, BUT Unknowingly She Unleashes the Homicidal Rage of His Imaginary Friends Who Protect the Boy at All Costs.
Child of Rage is the 1992 CBS Television Documentary Film about the True Life Story of Six Year Old Beth Thomas. This Bone – Story Chilling with scenes that You WILL NEVER FORGET. The Documentary features Footage of Beth revealing to Her Therapist that She has Tortured Animals and Physically/Sexually Abused Her Younger Brother Eric.
Brief Synopsis:
Jill Tyler and Her Minister Husband Rob decided They wanted to Adopt not just One but Two Children from the American Foster System. In the End the Tylers Adopted Six Year Old Beth and Her Younger Brother Eric. Eric is a Sweet, Shy, and Timid, and it appeared at First that Beth shared the same behavioral Traits as Her Brother. It Turned out that was Not the Case Not by a Long Shot. Beth soon began to have Unexplained Outbursts of Violent Rage for No Apparent Reason whatsoever. In a Short Time Beth’s behavior Deteriorates and Incidents (with increasing Levels of Violence) Start Occurring with Greater Frequency the Tylers went looking for Answers.
The Tyler Approach Beth’s Social Worker Doris and ask Her about the Specifics of Beth’s case file that contains Her Past/Personal Information. Doris Declines to answer the Tyler’s Questions Citing Confidentiality Laws and leave it at that. Times goes by and Beth’s Behavior reaches a Level where Mr. Tyler actually wanted to Keep Eric and relinquish Beth back to the Foster Care System, but Mrs. Tyler refused to give up on Beth.
In an unforeseen turn of Events Doris contacts the Tylers and Confesses the Truth of Eric and Beth’s Personal History. Doris goes on to tell the Tyler’s She was Alerted by Phone of a Case of Child Abuse, and She went and Rescued the Children from an Abusive Home (which She admitted was One of the Worst She had Ever seen). When Doris went on to say when She arrived at the Home Eric was in Bad Shape, but Nothing compared to His Sister Beth who even Worse Shape. There were No Adults Present at the Time Doris Rescued the Children as Their Mother was in the Hospital with Pneumonia, and Their Alcoholic Father was off on a Drunken Bender. To top things off Doris informs the Tylers that Beth and Eric in fact have an Older Sister named Stephanie.
Doris along with Mr. Tyler track down Stephanie who a Bitter, Broken, and Damaged Young Lady who was currently working at a Topless Bar. The Story Stephanie told Them was the Stuff that Nightmare are Made of. Stephanie told The Horrible and Harrowing Tale of Sexual Abuse at the Hands of Her Incestuous Pedophile Father. Once Stephanie was Old enough to Fight Off Her Father’s Abuse He began to Abuse Beth who was only an Infant at the Time. Though Thanks to Doris’s Confession the Tylers had the Information They Wanted (and Needed) They still weren’t any closer to the Answer of How Could They or Anyone for that Matter Help Beth overcome Her Childhood Trauma. Its then that Doris suggests a Controversial Treatment for Beth known as Holding Therapy which is Practiced by the Author of the Book Kids who kill (which Mrs. Tyler thought Perfectly Described Beth) Dr. Rosemary Myers.
Dr. Myers Examines Beth who Lies in an attempt to Manipulate the Doctor into believing that in Reality there was Nothing at all Wrong. Meanwhile Dr. Myers isn’t convinced in the Least, and employees the Tactic of Reverse Psychology to get Beth to Admit to Her Violent Behavior and Acts of Violence. Dr. Myer ultimately Diagnosis Beth with an Attachment Disorder Known as Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD.
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a Condition in which a Child is Unable to Establish Healthy Attachment(s) with Their Parents, Guardian or Primary Care Taker……A Child with an Attachment Disorder feels Unsafe and Alone. Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder have been so Disrupted in Early Development that Their Future Relationships are Seriously to Extremely Impaired and Highly Dysfunctional. This Disorder Stems from Having Suffered Physical/Sexual/Emotional Neglect or Abuse in a Child’s early Developmental Years.
Note to The Viewer: It is Important to Note that While the Documentary is Informative it Doesn’t Comment on the Outcome. Thats to say They didn’t take the Time to let the Viewers know what happened to Beth once the Documentary was done filming. Luckily though this Sadistic Story actually has a Rather Happy Ending as it turns Out. Beth has persevered over Her Traumatic Childhood of Brutal Abuse, and earned a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. Beth has used what happened to Her and the Documentary to Help Other Children who are dealing having been Victims of Abuse.
Les Sober 
Brought to You By Les Sober