Josh Hutcherson apologises for 'traumatising' people for almost 20 years
Josh Hutcherson wants you to know that he’s sorry for ‘traumatising’ a generation of kids.
The 33-year-old actor has built an impressive resume of films over the years, including The Hunger Games franchise and more recently, Five Nights at Freddy’s.
But one film that left children heartbroken almost 20 years ago is Bridge to Terabithia. The 2007 fantasy film, based on a novel, has earned the reputation as one of the most gut-wrenching tales kids’ films ever.
It follows two young teens, Jess and Leslie, who create a fantasy world called Terabithia which they use to cope with their troubled real lives. It also gives them a place to enjoy their free time together.
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Sadly, Leslie dies while trying to go to Terabithia on her own, creating a major dramatic turning point in the tale.
Jess struggles with guilt, before ultimately choosing to build a real bridge to Terabithia in her memory.
Almost two decades after the film came out and fans are still devastated by the character’s death.
And now, Josh himself is weighing in on fan reactions. In an interview with Refinery29 Australia, he said: “Sorry. It's just, you know, that movie. I have so many people come up to me today in the streets, and they literally tell me that I traumatised them as children."
He added: “And that they were, went to this movie with their families thinking it was going to be this sweet movie with the fantasy world that these kids were building, and the things go awry. So”, I’m sorry.”
Josh was also able to see the other perspective, noting that the film is actually a good introduction to the experience of grief.
Many fans on Reddit agreed with Josh’s perspective, particularly his suggestion that the film can serve as an accessible introduction to grief and loss for younger audiences.
One fan summed this up simply: “Well at least he knows”, while another defended the characters by observing, “He was a child himself lmao”.
Others connected the film directly to the original book and its long-standing place in school curriculums. One fan argued that the story’s sudden shift from an ordinary childhood into tragedy is precisely what makes its portrayal of grief so effective: “Tbf, that's also what the book is, and kind of the point- it's all a normal childhood until it's not. I agree it's a very realistic portrayal of grief, and there's a reason so many schools choose to traumatise children with the book. It's an age appropriate way to help contextualise loss and living on after.”
Another fan recalled encountering the story at school themselves, noting that both the book and the original film had been used in their education: “I know. It was required reading when I was in middle school, and we watched the original movie in class. Seeing the trailer for the Hutcherson version had me wondering how they’d handle the… swimming lesson… but it was a surprisingly faithful adaptation when I saw the full movie years later.” The comment reinforces the idea that the story has long been used to introduce younger audiences to difficult themes surrounding death and grief.
Several fans also acknowledged that, while the film can be valuable in this respect, the experience can still be deeply upsetting. One confessed they likely would have skipped watching the film had they known the twist: “Great movie, probably would never have watched it if I knew what it was about. It did f**k me up for awhile”. Another was more direct in agreeing with Josh: “He's right though, it's a good introduction to grief with the right age group.”
One commenter wrote: “He’s right though, and it’s the exact reason the book was part of so many school curriculums. Yes, grief is traumatic, but pretending like it never happens isn’t doing you any favours when you inevitably have someone you love pass away. Emotionally preparing people (specifically when they’re young) for the inevitability and often unexpected nature of death is a kindness.”
However, not all of the discussion focused on the film itself. Some fans felt that the shock came partly from how the story had been marketed, with one quipping: “This falls more on the marketing department for making the movie look like some sort of magical Narnia adventure.”
Another fan particularly praised Josh for recognising this dimension of the film, saying: “The "but it's a great intro into grief" was actually an incredible thought for him to have and say out loud. He's not wrong and that's a great way to approach it!”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film
Greg Harris