Mel E

This is not a story about platonic love. This is not a rare story. This is a story that happens to one in three children. A predatory adult seeks out a vulnerable, neglected child and begins to work on them. The predator being weirdly complementary switching between overt position of power and feigning powerlessness in order to make the child feel more grown up- as if she has made choices without being manipulated. This is a classic case of predatory grooming. Telling her they are equal partners. She doesn't even know his real name. Mixing parenting/caring with constantly stretching her boundaries and undermining her instincts - outclassing her at every turn with his adult bag of tricks. Talking in riddles. He manipulates her to feel like she needs to protect him. If the child had not reacted so negatively and been so traumatized in the shower scene (classic grooming setup), he would have already had his way with her. This male character finds lying and manipulation easy. The only reason she made it back home is because there were witnesses. He is just practicing for the next one. Children always find a way to live in the moment and to find happiness wherever they are. Even when they know the adult they are with could hurt them they still love them. The real and truly creepy thing about this movie, is that so many in the audience are willing to make excuses for this type of behavior by adults (as seen in the reviews). That is how people get away with it. Ross Partridge was brave to play such a disturbing character. Another creepy fact, the child actress real name Oona means Lamb...