The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

As the tumultuous life of Jeremiah (played by Dylan Sprouse and Cole Sprouse) spirals out of control, his mother, Sarah (Asia Argento), embarks on a reckless path of self-destruction, prioritizing her own cravings over the well-being of her young son. An upheaval of chaos reigns as her addiction to prescription drugs and the lure of a reckless lifestyle lead to a whirlwind of uncertainty for Jeremiah, who is constantly juggled between unstable foster families and his mother’s selfish whims.

Sarah’s tumultuous relationships with men are riddled with abuse and neglect, using them as excuses to abandon Jeremiah time and time again. Her most recent fling, Emerson (Jeremy Renner), represents the peak of this torment, as a horrific incident occurs while Sarah neglects Jeremiah in Atlantic City. This traumatic experience leaves him scarred emotionally, a pain that only intensifies when his grandmother (Ornella Muti) attempts to shield him from further trauma by relocating him to a radically religious home with his grandfather (Peter Fonda).

After three long years, Sarah resurfaces, intent on reclaiming her now 11-year-old son, Jeremiah. However, her current partner, Kenny (Matt Schulze), proves to be as unreliable as those before him, leaving them stranded at a truck stop while Sarah pursues men. Confronted with the grim truth that her partners fail to embrace her reality as a troubled mother, Sarah devises a desperate scheme to mask Jeremiah’s true identity and turn him into her “little sister.”

As she coerces Jeremiah into dressing up like her, complete with makeup, nightgown, and high heels, their fragile relationship sinks further into toxicity. The innocent child is forced to employ his mother’s unhealthy seduction tactics on Jackson (Marilyn Manson), who initially resists but ultimately succumbs to Jeremiah’s advances. Sarah’s explosive reaction towards Jackson for giving in, mixed with her disgust for her own son, leads to violent outbursts and a hasty escape from that situation, leaving Jeremiah contending with the debris of his shattered life once more.

As the story unfolds, Sarah and Jeremiah find themselves inhabiting an ostensibly normal household, one concealing a dark secret – a hidden methamphetamine lab lurking below the surface. This underbelly culminates in a catastrophic event that tragically claims the life of Sarah’s latest love interest. With danger now spiraling around them, both Sarah and Jeremiah are forced to flee, with Sarah’s unstable psyche reeling under the weight of her substance abuse.

In their attempts to detox from the insidious grip of methamphetamine, Sarah’s paranoia reaches alarming heights, convinced that every bite of food is poisonous. Her reaction? A bizarre dietary regimen consisting solely of chips and soda – a decision that results in a desperate and misguided shoplifting attempt at a nearby grocery store. The consequences surface starkly: Jeremiah’s attempt to quell his hunger ends with him foraging through a dumpster and swallowing a discarded hamburger.

As Sarah loses her grasp on reality, her mind becomes increasingly afflicted by methamphetamine psychosis. In a desperate maternal ploy, she persuades Jeremiah to consume ipecac, a concoction she mistakenly believes will cleanse him of imagined toxins. This misguided decision lands Jeremiah in a hospital bed, accompanied by his grandmother. Later that night, fueled by a fervent resolve, Sarah sneaks into his room, whisking him away from their chaotic world.

Together, they embark on a fugitive journey, sharing the anonymity of their hospital gowns. The closing shot captures their ephemeral moment of liberation - Sarah and Jeremiah, fading into the unknown, their future shrouded in uncertainty but with an unbreakable bond linking them.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 15:00