Just, Melvin: Just Evil is a 2000 American documentary film by James Ronald Whitney about his grandfather, Melvin Just, and the devastating consequences of the sexual abuse that Just inflicted on their family. The documentary, released in 2016, focuses on the crimes of serial killer Anthony Sowell. This man is obviously despicable and its of course frustrating that the mother chose to ignore what was happening, and also that she didnt take her daughters and herself out of the situation. Just Melvin, Just Evil received an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. If you believe you have seen all of the best documentaries, youre wrong! It won awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, South Beach Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival. .thank you for taking the time to write that. His actions ruined so many lives. She alleges he took her into the woods, threatened her as she could not run - as she had braces on her legs at that time - and paid her for sex, demonstrating that up until Just was confined to a wheelchair, his reign of molestation and terror continued through the adult life of at least one of the children. The documentarian and all the family members who spoke in this documentary are incredibly brave and honorable people. Jerry was awesome. You dont just shake it off like you would when the guy nextdoor molests you.this is your father and AND ! Dubbed The Cleveland Strangler, Sowell lured women to his house with the promise of sex and drugs and then would strangle them. And I feel like I'm emerging. Occasionally abusers may even brag about their misdeeds so that other people are fooled into thinking they are actually proud of them and therefore hate them all the more. I often hear of mothers of girls who were themselves sexually abused by their own fathers blithely allowing the old men to babysit their granddaughters with no one else present. Her gait is severely affected dating to the hip injuries she sustained. Regal It is mentality debilitating what happened to them and to top it of both mothers allowed it . Great people. And the ending, with them hugging him and all of that, I dont think anybody that hasnt been through something like that or something similar could understand what went on there, must be very conflicting emotions there. In the documentary Just, Melvin: Just Evil, Melvin Just's family says he sexually molested his nine daughters and some of his stepchildren. Just, Melvin: Just Evil 2000 Directed by James Ronald Whitney Synopsis A documentary about a man who molested generations of his children and stepchildren. In this documentary focusing on his own tortured family tree, James Ronald Whitney chronicles an evil that seems too pure to be real: Melvin Just. Just Melvin just evil is an odd one, it's mainly a private documentary about family incest and what happened with the family members, there is a possible murder case, too. First of all, the majority of abused children do not go on to abuse their own children. His grandson, James Ronald Whitney, decided to make a documentary about him and promises that by the end of the film, Just will be in jail or dead. The abuse resulted in dysfunction spanning three generations of Whitney's family. Evidence of the fallout unfolds throughout Whitney's film. "Just, Melvin" is the lacerating portrait of a monster who molested almost everyone in two families and seems to have gotten away with murder. Why didnt any of these girls sue social services when they became of age? How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, Family Dysfunction and Mental Health Blog, Why Teens Are So Critical of Their Parents, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Physical and Mental Health, 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, The Single Best (and Hardest) Thing to Give Up, 3 Ways to Reclaim Your Hope and Happiness. They often do that by making claims of abuse that are clearly not credible. Just, Melvin: Just Evil is a Documentary directed by James Ronald Whitney. Just was a suspect in her murder and the documentary interviews Detective Lonnie Lawson. The 1990s era was filled with sex, drugs, music and sometimes murder. Viewers will hear stories from Ray himself, his followers and his victims. Its a shame society doesnt take things like this more seriously. (Available as a print and as stationery cards.). Rock and a Hard Place, directed and co-produced by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill. He destroyed these wemon And I think that if something like that had happened to me as a child, I think I wouldnt of have either been able to get over it and I honestly think I wouldve gone the self-destructive path like so many of those girls did. With this caveat in mind, I present the role of the monster. This is an insider looking in, exposing open and bleeding wounds in a detailed and often grotesque close-up. Cinemark Its their choice to let it continue to rule them. On Friday night, they were a big bunch of nothing. Through shocking interviews with relatives, which describe hideous and appalling crimes, Whitney seeks to dissect the long-lasting impact of Melvin's abuse on his family. In it, they detail their experiences of abuse over decades, at his hands, even admitting to knowing of a murder he committed to keep his crimes quiet. Coming Soon. This Web site by Solutions Web Design www.SolutionsWebDesign.net 2000-2004 Tripod Below the Camera 2000-2004 Tripod Below the Camera In it, they detail their experiences of abuse over decades, at his hands, even admitting to knowing of a murder he committed to keep his crimes quiet. Jenise has two children who appear on the camera. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. So sad. A man who had systematically sexually abused several members of his own family with devastating results . Very disturbing legacy left by a cruel and twisted individual narrated in a captivating manner. West of Memphis (2012) And we are so afraid to contradict his lies. There are no featured reviews for Just, Melvin: Just Evil because the movie has not released yet (). Just Melvin, Just Evil is the most disturbing documentary you'll ever see. the daughters hugging By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Coming Soon. "Legacy" is the story of how a family from a Chicago housing project, devastated by the . I found myself wishing he would push the old creep off into the water in his wheelchair. Fans have questioned where Hoda Kotb is after she missed another episode of the Today show in an unexplained, week-long absence. It's cliched, and the next comedian to campaign for a statue is Adam Sandler. Just, Melvin is a hard film to watch. I suppose I did come across as unfeeling, but I am not, how did you put it ?An illiterate cretin You did just what you said I did, you judge me without knowing me. Whitney does not press the issue and allows Clarissa to speak freely, so Clarissa never names her molester, though it is implied that it is Just as he asks why she would want to feel close to Just. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Hoda Kotb 's absence from the Today show has finally been explained by her co-host. Melvin Justs grandson, James Ronald Whitney, is the documentarys producer, which gives the film the perspective of a family member. and the I was in a very similar situation as a child. Anna. Sit back for once and imagine being told to insert crayons in your vagina, having sex with your siblings how one sister said the other liked it..They have no idea about sexual abuse and the the ramifications that come with it..they were abused at a very early age and none of them had a so called wall built up that contained good memories..I feel bad to say it but I see nothing good happening to any of these poor women without extensive help..the brother wants to live as husband and wife with his sister..There was no chance for these poor women at all..But the children OMG she was already abused why is someone not doing anything to save them? Besides, it shows the devastating consequences of it for future generations (Kambitsis, 2002). documentary is to inform inform those ignorant of the issue how things are Trillion Dollar Bet. Talking to a reporter about Just, Melvin: Just Evil, his intimately personal film about the grandfather who sexually molested his 10 children and stepchildren (including Whitney's mother), the filmmaker finds his cell phone connection from Manhattan to Florida constantly cutting out. It seemed that many people could not differentiate between a light spanking and a vicious beating. Something sinister took over Black River Falls, Wisconsin, in the 1890s that caused residents to murder each other, set buildings ablaze, and exhibit some . Nancy Abraham . Though it didn't win a prize at Sundance, it did take honors at film festivals in Santa Barbara, Calif.; Austin, Texas; Vancouver; and others. Last edited on 11 December 2022, at 01:14, winning all those Emmy, Oscar and Peabody awards, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, "PrivateSector; A Broker's Painfully Personal Tale", "HBO hits hard with 'Just Evil' tomorrow", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Just,_Melvin:_Just_Evil&oldid=1126747734, This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 01:14. It is a very hard to find documentary about the tormented family of Melvin Just, a man almost too evil to be believed. I would LOVE to have the nerve/courage to do what you did! Because Melvin just cast a Touch spell, he gets a free touch attack[1a]. Ha HA! TOP CRITIC. You know the saying! It is true that mothers are at fault for turning a blind eye. fathers grave i wish i could thank this gentleman for documenting that. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Just Melvin, Just Evil: A story about one brutal pedophile. Just was ultimately never charged in the case, which remains officially unsolved. Lisa Abelow Hedley, a former entertainment lawyer who is the six-foot-tall mother of a 5-year-old dwarf, Lily-Claire, was on a mission with her first foray into filmmaking, ''Dwarfs: Not a Fairy . His evanescent philosophi A devastating investigation into the pedophilia scandals tearing apart the Catholic Church, Deliver Us From Evil begins by looking into one priest, Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug and a dangerous one at that. Director Whitney chronicles a painful journey through his family's past to unravel a vicious circle of abuse, incest and . Brett and Daya Brett and Daya. Melvin Just should have spent the rest of his days in jail, at the very least. This resulted in nothing happening except the kid no longer being allowed to go visit her anymore. However shocking such disclosures are, they're often presented in a manner that diminishes their emotional effect. In April 2001, Fisher allegedly murdered his wife and kids and then blew up their house in Scottsdale, Arizona. Melvin Just . This man is James Ronald Whitney, who was brave enough to use this documentary as an outlet to explore his familys history, searching for answers (and closure) to the horror suffered by himself and his relatives. Since no one has or can have memories from this age, the public probably started to feel sorry for her put-upon parents rather than for her. He was never charged in that incident. A tale of child abuse and manipulation, Just Melvin, Just Evil, documents a fathers abuse towards his children. "It's not a newsmagazine piece, and it's not interrupted by commercials. Whitney and his mother, Ann Whitney, escaped the life earlier than the rest. Just, Melvin: Just Evil (2000) One of THE most fucked-up documentaries I've ever seen. No one can help us when we are in this situation. Released January 1st, 2000, 'Just, Melvin: Just Evil' stars The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 36 min, and received a user score of 67 (out of 100) on TMDb, which put together reviews. | Melvin Just was a father, grandfather, and by all accounts, an incredible mechanic. And many others become model parents. Remove Ads Crew Details Language English 75 mins More at IMDb TMDb Sign in to log, rate or review Share Ratings 3.4 3 half- ratings (0%) 11 ratings (1%) 4 ratings (0%) 36 ratings (4%) REALWOMEN/REALSTORIES 245K subscribers Subscribe 13K Share Save 724K views 6 months ago SUBSCRIBE NOW . Chicago Cubs starter Justin Steele and six relievers combined on baseball's first spring training no-hitter since 2017, blanking the Padres 4-0 . Remove Ads Crew Details Genres Director James Ronald Whitney Writer James Ronald Whitney Composer James Ronald Whitney 75 mins More at IMDb TMDb Sign in to log, rate or review Share Ratings 3.4 DailyMail.com visited the town of Lynchburg . He was convicted on 12 counts of child molestation committed on members of his family. Police had to know their house was the last home visited and they dont put 2 and 2 togeather? One child may go forth and tell but the others are so afraid they will not. Sept. 11 was a devastating event for the United States. Just, Melvin also presents a horrifying picture of poor, rural family dysfunction that lives down to the worst stereotypes. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. The monster is in effect saying, "It was OK that you abused me because look how awful I am. But Melvin isn't done yet, he still gets to cast a spell because he's using Spell Combat. Showing the cycle of abuse through the generations, Clarissa notes that she feels sad, "but he is family and I love him". It explores how the hedge fund which they founded, Long Term Capital Management, which promised to generate large returns with low risk through mathematical models . It stays with you, but I would not call it great. Such a man is not "in denial" about the evil he inflicted. David M. Allen, M.D. I would torture that fucking devil, and he would disappear. Knight was crying out for help but didnt receive the proper care or attention. By the time Whitney confronts Just, he's in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home. Why? "If you thought Schindler's List was horrifying, than check out this. . Holly sheet your UGLy Venice's interviews recall Just in a loving manner, discussing how difficult it was for her and subsequently Just when he was released to go about their daily business. However, it's also a very insightful film about an important topic. These days, he juggles a Wall Street career with work writing musicals and completing a new film, TheWorkingGirl.com, about children whose mother is a porn star. Congratulations! Tales of the Grim Sleeper details Lonnie David Franklin Jr's crime spree, including murdering 10 black women in Los Angeles. IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO DO WHAT YOU DID.Warning: Contains scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.-Don't forget to subscribe! She required multiple surgeries and for over 30 years (at the time of the documentary) had worn leg braces off and on. Just, Melvin caught HBO's eye during the Sundance Film Festival, where Chicago Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert championed the film (on his TV show At the Movies, Ebert called it "one of the angriest, most painful documentaries I have ever seen . Guy killed his girlfriend, brought his friends up to . the mothers should be shot for allowing him in there lives, knowing what he was doing so many women, silently conspire against there own kids by allowing nutcases into there lives.. and they are equally to blame. Please tell me someone helped this poor family . I clearly deserved whatever it was that you dished out to me. I think they went to see him for closure. It is a very hard to find documentary about the tormented family of Melvin Just, a man almost too evil to be believed. An estranged sister is out in the Midwest. You can stay with this family until it's unbearable.". Whitney not only explores the unspeakable acts perpetrated by his grandfather, but also the legacy of self-destructive behavior that can all be traced back to Just. In it, they detail their experiences of abuse over decades, at his hands, even admitting to knowing of a murder he committed to keep his crimes quiet. Just sexually abused ten of Whitney's relatives, including his mother, uncle, aunts and step-aunts, some as young as two years old. Seriously. My guess is that victims (or "survivors") of significant abuse secretly want to think that their families are not as sick or evil as the abuse might suggest, and therefore want to believe that almost every parent acts that way at one time or another. Yet Whitney, who serves as co-writer, co-producer, director and co-composer on Just, Melvin, insists he's not angry about his grandfather's crimes, which earned Just an eight-year prison sentence for child molestation in the late '70s. The film was well received overall; critic Roger Ebert called Just, Melvin "one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen. James Ronald Whitney's first film is a documentary about the cycle of incest and abuse in his family, a cycle started by his grandfather, Melvin Just. It doesn't allow enough in: enough ideas, enough beliefs, enough encounters with the exuberant magic of existence. . . Aug 2, 2018, 7:47 PM. These girls are using their pasts as a crutch and excuse not to do any better with their livesIm not saying it didnt happen, Im sure it did, as children they couldnt do anything about the situation, that was up to their sorry, no good mothers, who deserve punishment as surely as Melvin..Butthese kids are adults nowget help, get up and get over it. The difference is that Schindler's List leaves you with a feeling of hope, Come and See does NOT.". And actually sort of re-revved up in a really beautiful way.". The filmmaker denies feeling any anger, but Just, Melvin nevertheless seemed drenched in frustration and pain, fueled mostly by Just's cruelty and the inability of any adults to stop it. Whitney, a former Chippendale's dancer, is a talented pianist who says he stumbled into a finance career while helping successful friends manage their money. [1][3] It is further revealed that his aunt, Pambi, was actually severely injured during one of her rapes, where he placed his legs on top of hers to commit the crime. Then they all go visit and hugging on him at the end ? Just Melvin, Just Evil is one of the most disturbing documentaries you'll ever see. Some even decide never to have children for fear that they might become abusive to their own children just like their parents were. ZERO: An Investigation into 9/11, has one central thesis - that the The film was made by James Ronald Whitney, whose "Just, Melvin: Just Evil" is one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen, about a man who abused and molested many members of Whitney's extended family and is finally confronted on screen. I commend this young man for creating this video. I cant believe what I am seeing here at the end, everyone goes up and hugs him. (Whitney includes a link to the charity Childhelp USA on his Web site for the film, JustMelvin.com. 3 deaths potentially linked to the Murdaugh family remain unsolved. Nothing in the film quite prepares us for the closing scenes at a burial service, where a pastor reads futile words of comfort while drunken family members alternate between grief and rage. away at times knowing that someone elses family has gone through this also lets just mute all the criticism The area around the Jack Daniel's barrelhouses is covered in 'whiskey fungus'. "Yet, for all its shocks, Just, Melvin is not a work of morbid depression or a confessional freak show. He was making himself into a "monster." The news anchor was last seen on Today during an episode that aired on Monday, 20 February, according to Deadline. Roco Romn edited Spanish subtitles for Just Melvin, Just Evil - Classic Documentary about Abuse. These children include the twins Jeanette and Jan, Ann (Whitney's mother), Jim (from Fay's prior marriage to a man named Elmer), and June and Jerri, the children born during her marriage to Just. Menu. Grant has been practicing her singing . A good example of this was seen in a 2000 HBO documentary called Just, Melvin: Just Evil. He casts Shocking Grasp, defensively. Fathers became afraid to hug their own daughters for fear of being accused of incest. May who has written enchantingly about wintering, resilience, and the wisdom of sadness reaches for the other side of that coma of the soul:. All Rights Reserved. It's made by one of the families . The documentary is available on Amazon Video here. A little girl i knew in the 70s was molested, the judge through it out. As depicted in the movie, this is another obsession he has (Brooks et al., 1997). The director (Whitney) has to be one of the bravest men on earth, to expose all this. Other people who claim to be abused end up making their families look reasonable and themselves look bad. This documentary is about a sick ass family -the dad molested and raped his daughters and stepdaughters on occasion when the mom was in the bed, killed a nurse, beat their mom -the brother asked his own freaking sister to marry him -the guy that did the documentary is the son of one of the daughters and his uncle molested him No excuses other than the fact that one cannot leave this type of person. Sowell was caught after one of his victims escaped. May he rot in hell. As I said, I grew up in a very similar household. If it's not, it is now. It premiered at the 2000Sundance Film Festival and aired on HBO on April 22, 2001. As an aside, by pushing adult children away by being hateful through denying that anything untoward happened or through seeming happy with themselves, monsters are actually trying to do their children a favor by pushing them away (i.e., distancing). When peppered with questions about his crimes, Just denied everything. "Instead of being angry, spinning around in circles going nowhere, I have disgust that I've turned into something positive," says the filmmaker, who also works as a stockbroker for a Wall Street firm. for some people, and to inform those who have gone through it that they are not sister, I don't think that's all that wrong.". ?Really ? PostedNovember 2, 2011 Just denied it all. Just Melvin, Just Evil - Classic Documentary about Abuse A truly difficult film to watch, Just, Melvin: Just Evil tells the painful story of a family struggling to come to terms with the legacy of their monstrous patriarch, the pedophile and suspected murderer Melvin Just. But then again, just like with me saying that and with the people saying that they shouldve gotten over it and gotten help, you really cant know unless youve been in their situation and really just unless youve been in their mind. Loved the Ed McMahon performance! He laughs, in fact. 6. Still, once Whitney determined that nobody was hurt and the fire was under control, he was ready to finish the interview. Locking and unlocking the door when entering the house just to make sure it is secure is another obsessive behavior depicted by Melvin. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. In this documentary focusing on his own tortured family tree, James Ronald Whitney chronicles an evil that seems too pure to be real: Melvin Just. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. I wish the mothers would have also been prosecuted. MORONS!!!!!!!!!!! what a ridiculous, ridiculous family.