Watch Accidents Happen

Accidents Happen is a 2009 black comedy film directed by Andrew Lancaster and written by Brian Carbee. The movie follows the life of a dysfunctional family in suburban Connecticut who has a knack for getting into trouble. The story revolves around the Conway family, who after suffering from a tragic accident involving their youngest son, struggle to keep their family together. The film opens with the teenage protagonist Billy (played by Harrison Gilbertson) trying to sneak his way out of the open window of his room with his sister trying to stop him from going out. Rather predictably, he falls and breaks his arm and sustains a minor brain injury.

The Conways are a typical suburban family, but they seem to attract accidents like a magnet, and although they blame each other, they soon realize that accidents just happen. The family - Jackie Conway (played by Geena Davis), Ray Conway (played by Joel Tobeck), Tony Conway (played by Harrison Gilbertson) and their neighbor Ralph Dwight (played by Sebastian Gregory), members of which all suffer from PTSD caused by their respective accidents.

Andrew Fraser stars as the father of the family Gloria, who has a drinking problem after the tragic hit-and-run accident of their younger son. Gavin Shankland plays the role of Billy's best friend, Justin, who gets sucked into the family drama. Gareth Gordon plays the part of an architect, who tries to help the Conways solve their problems, but ends up getting sucked into the chaos.

The characters in the movie, especially the members of the Conway family, are incredibly eccentric and quirky, and it's their idiosyncrasies that give the film its appeal. The black comedic elements blend with a poignant portrayal of the way a family copes with tragedy and the struggle to keep up appearances in the '50s-'60s era of a suburban America that's trying to keep the perfect image airbrushed.

The film is well-shot, with some eye-catching visuals were used to portray the accidental deaths that keep cropping up, for instance, there's a scene where Gloria smashes her car through a wall, and the perspective is direct and confronting as compared to the light and off-beat humorous tone adopted by the director.

Accidents Happen is a touching tale of a family that's struggling to come to terms with their tragedies, and all the dark humor that comes with accidents. Through their troubles, the Conways rediscover their love for one another, and toward the end of the movie, their dreams for a better future come to fruition.

Overall, Accidents Happen is a film that's not for everyone. It may be too quirky or dark for some viewers, but for those who get into it, it will leave a lasting impression. Fans of black comedies and stories about dysfunctional families will find much to appreciate here. The story is well-crafted, the acting is top-notch, and the visuals are crisp and memorable. If you're in the mood for a film that's a little different than your average Hollywood blockbuster, give Accidents Happen a try.