Tina Huynh

FLM-THEA-1023

Due: August 2, 2017

The Road to Valentine Road

The documentary Valentine Road (2013) by Marta Cunningham tells the story of the

tragic school shooting that occurred in Oxnard, CA in 2008. The film shares the tragic lives of

the deceased, Larry King, and the murderer, Brandon McInerney, before the horrific event.

Valentine Road not only explores the background of both victims in this event, it further shifts its

focus on the adults surrounding these children and how they are also the ones to possibly be

blamed for the point leading up to and the aftermath of the murder. This film not only condemns

Brandon McInerney for his actions but also helps the audience realize the social dilemma that

was being placed on Larry King for his sexual orientation at that time in history.

Valentine Road unfolds the story of Larry Kings murder by suggesting that the adults

that are responsible for these children are potentially the ones that are to be blamed for their

failure in positively influencing the children and being careless adults. The film does a great job

demonstrating the lack of sensibility in adults by mentioning how the kids that witnessed the

murder were to be removed to another classroom. Detective Jeff Kay explains that their priority

was to figure out what to do with the children that was also in the computer room. One of the

students named Mariah mentions that after such a horrific incident occurred, they placed the

students in a classroom and played the movie Jaws. The choice in the film comes to show how

careless and inconsiderate the adults were regarding their decisions.

Throughout the film, it is revealed that both Larry and Brandon came from troubled

homes. Larry was essentially removed from his drug addicted mother and adopted by the Kings.
It was later on revealed that he was reportedly being abused by them, and was taken to a group

home for neglected children. As for Brandon, his mother was addicted to meth and his father was

also a drug addict that was a drug dealer as well. The troubled background of these two children

comes to show how adults are constantly failing to be the positive impact but essentially the

cause of unhappiness for their kids.

Many times in the film the teachers and administrators mention that they knew of

bullying and problems that were occurring yet they chose to not intervene with the problems

between the students. A great example of this is Larrys seventh grade teacher, Shirley Brown

who explains that Larrys self-expression was only him asking to be endangered. Shirley Brown

states that she can relate to how Brandon felt because if it was her she wouldve been in the same

position, except she wouldnt know if she wouldve taken a gun, but a good swift kick in the

butt might have worked real well. This is a great example of how even an adult that is a school

teacher judged Larry for his sexual orientation and his ways of self-expression. She condemned

what he was doing and even went out of her way saying he needed to be punished for being gay.

As the trial went on to decide whether or not Brandon should be sentenced as an adult,

many of the adults in the community felt as if it was wrong for such a young child to be

sentenced lifetime in prison. Brandons defense attorney Robyn Brawmson states that she

doesnt know what the reason is but Brandon means a lot to her, and even shows that she has

gotten a tattoo to show how much she loves him. The tattoo is revealed to say Save Brandon.

Although Brawmson has a good point in explaining at the beginning of the trial that every adult

messed things up every step of the way and continues to do so, which lead up to this point and

the aftermath of the murder. Her inability to explain why she is so attracted to Brandon and his
energy shows how irresponsible she is as a professional lawyer but she was rather seen as a

devotee to saving Brandon, who if we havent forgotten was nonetheless a murderer.

Although Brandon was the murderer, almost every adult in this film explains that they

were unwilling to give him a life sentence because he was a teenager. During interviews with the

jury members that were involved in the case also explains their devotion to saving Brandon

because he had so much to live for. Disregarding the fact that Brandon had also taken the life of

someone just as young as he was, leaving Larry to not be able to see another day. The director

Cunningham does a great job in letting the audiences understand that although Brandon is young

and had a troubled childhood; it does not justify his actions.

The documentary does an exceptional job at helping the audience understand the social

dilemma those in the LGBT Community receives by other people. With Larry having a different

sexual orientation he was the target for bullying as well as being frowned upon, not only by his

peers but the adults around him. More alarming was the feelings others had shared about how

Larry had contributed to his own death by sexually harassing Brandon and cross dressing. One

juror had even said Brandon was just solving a problem that no one else was. This comes to

show how closed minded society was and still is, making those who express their gender

identities and sexual orientation a target for danger.

Many times in the documentary the interview subjects mention religion and how it is a

sin to be gay and that the almighty himself wouldnt have agreed to Larrys actions of being

himself and dressing the way he wanted. This definitely shows how the adults in the situation

decided to justify this act of murder as if it was the right thing to do. I believe most of the adults

in this film as well as Brandon were raised to be homophobic. Religion is no way to justify

murder. One of Larrys friends also came out and began to dress the way she wanted. She was
seen with her girlfriend throughout the documentary and explains that Larry was the person who

gave her the courage to come out. Yet at the same time she was afraid that one day something

like this would also happen to her. She was scared that she may also be a target to those who do

not agree with her sexual orientation.

In conclusion, the documentary Valentine Road further explores the tragic events that

took place before and after this event. This film was able to help us understand what was going

on between Larry and Brandon, but also opens our eyes on how the adults that were involved had

decided to deal with this situation. This tragedy couldve been prevented if only adults werent

continuing to fail the expectations of being responsible. This documentary also reminded us the

social prejudice Larry received for being himself and coming out to those around him, which

shouldnt have been the reason for his death. Valentine Road reminds us how big of an issue

LGBT still is for some people and how the preconception of this community can be changed if

we all realize that someone elses sexual orientation doesnt do us any harm.