The Mudge Boy 2004

In the past, Duncan Mudge faced the tragic loss of his mother due to a heart attack while cycling. Now, he shares a strained existence with his grieving father, Edgar, on their poultry farm, where Duncan finds solace in the company of the chickens. Their bond is complicated by Edgar’s ongoing depression, creating a noticeable rift between them. One day, while riding his bike with one of his feathered friends along a rural path, Duncan takes a moment to interact with a cow belonging to Perry Foley. This seemingly innocent encounter leads to an unexpected conversation.

The following day at church, Duncan stumbles upon Perry in a compromising situation. As Perry continues with his wild lifestyle, he and his friends make an appearance at a convenience store, where Duncan is busy inflating his bike tires. In a moment of compassion, Tonya, a girl in Perry’s group, offers comfort to Duncan as he mourns his mother’s death and invites him to join their crew. In the barn later, Perry shares stories of his own sexual exploits, creating an awkward yet intriguing atmosphere.

Duncan’s visits to Perry take a more intimate turn when they bond over their turbulent family backgrounds; Perry bears a cut on his lip, a result of his father’s abusive behavior. Taking a leap of faith, they go swimming in a nearby lake, a location laden with both innocence and tension. The two boys begin to explore feelings that transcend friendship. Back at the farm, Perry pries into Duncan’s family dynamics, sharing his own struggles with the absence of a father figure. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Duncan shows Perry how to calm a chicken by placing its head into his mouth—a peculiar act that Perry ridicules, leading to an awkward end to their day.

As the story unfolds, Duncan once again joins Perry and his friends at an outdoor party, where he finds Perry engaged in an intimate act with another girl, April. The atmosphere becomes more complex as they later sift through Duncan’s mother’s belongings in the barn, a space filled with emotional weight. In a troubling twist, Perry provokes Duncan into donning his mother’s wedding dress as a prank, which escalates into a traumatic and violating experience that leaves Duncan’s world turned upside down.

Following these harrowing events, Duncan finds himself in a fragile emotional state, struggling to connect with his father’s grief. In a tense moment, Duncan’s father attempts to purge his pain by burning his late wife’s belongings. The night brings brief respite when Duncan and Perry meet in a tractor, where Perry suggests they should distance themselves. Yet, their confusion leads them to exchange a kiss, marking an intricate moment of desire. At the convenience store, Perry’s cruel antics take a toll on Duncan, culminating in a shocking act where Duncan defiantly bites off the head of a chicken. The aftermath of this gruesome act sees Duncan returning home, only to be met by his father’s embrace, an emotional release that leads Duncan to finally break down in tears.