History Fridge / AmericanHistoryX

* When Derek's cell mate was making fun of the KKK in the prison earlier, Derek's reaction was to suppress laughter. Makes sense seeing as how he personally sees the KKK as an embarrassment to the Neo-Nazi movement. He even lampshades this earlier in the dinner scene with Murray.

* One of the opening scenes features an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after he turns in an essay describing Hitler as a civil-rights hero. Their differing perspectives become more understandable with later scenes depicting earlier events. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a hostile, terrifying confrontation with Derek that led to him ending the relationship on the spot; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of), partly because Sweeney sees in Derek the young man he once was. These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* One of the opening scenes features an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after he turns in an essay describing Hitler as a civil-rights hero. Their differing perspectives become more understandable with later scenes depicting earlier events. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a hostile, terrifying confrontation with Derek that led to him ending the relationship on the spot; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* One of the opening scenes features an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after receiving an essay describing Hitler as a civil-rights hero. Their differing perspectives become more understandable with later scenes depicting earlier events. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a hostile, terrifying confrontation with Derek that led to him ending the relationship on the spot; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* The opening scene features an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after receiving his ''Mein Kampf'' essay. Their differing perspectives become more understandable with later scenes depicting earlier events. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a hostile, terrifying confrontation with Derek that led to him ending the relationship on the spot; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* The opening scene features an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after receiving his ''Mein Kampf'' essay. Their differing perspectives become more understandable with later scenes depicting earlier events. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a face-to-face confrontation with Derek over his aggressive racism and anti-Semitism, and abusive behavior, during a dinner that drove Murray to end his relationship with the mother; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* The opening scene featuring an argument between Murray and Sweeney over what to do with Danny after receiving his ''Mein Kampf'' essay becomes more understandable in later scenes that take place earlier in the film's chronology. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and wound up in a face-to-face confrontation with Derek over his aggressive racism and anti-Semitism, and abusive behavior, during a dinner that drove Murray to end his relationship with the mother; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of yet--the movie never says). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* The early scene where Murray and Sweeney debate what to do with Danny after receiving his ''Mein Kampf'' essay takes on an added layer with later scenes that take place earlier chronologically. We learn that Murray is Jewish; that he briefly dated Danny's and Derek's mother and came face to face with Derek's aggresively racist and anti-Semitic behavior during a dinner; and that Sweeney has been meeting with Derek in prison and guiding him out of his white-supremacist ways (a fact Murray may or may not be aware of yet--the movie never says). These revelations help explain why Sweeney is more open than Murray to the idea that Danny can be saved.

* Murray being revealed as Jewish adds a new layer to his reaction to Danny's ''Mein Kampf'' essay at the beginning of the movie. He also may be predisposed to view Danny as irredeemable due to his negative experience with the older brother when he was dating the mother (in a scene shown later, but happening earlier in terms of the story's chronology), as well as the fact that he may not yet know Derek has changed, though Sweeney already does.

* Murray being revealed as Jewish adds a new layer to his reaction to Danny's ''Mein Kampf'' essay at the beginning of the movie. He also may be predisposed to view Danny as irredeemable due to his negative experience with the older brother when he was dating the mother (in a scene shown later, but happening earlier in terms of the story's chronology).

* Murray being revealed as Jewish adds a new layer to his reaction to Danny's ''Mein Kampf'' essay at the beginning of the movie.

* Near the end, Derek is asked by Dr. Sweeney and a Police lieutenant to use whatever influence he still has with the Neo-Nazis to help them de-escalate tensions on the street after Cameron and Seth were assaulted in a DeletedScene. Because of Danny's murder, there is no way he's still going to do that (either because of RedemptionRejection or simply because he's grieving), and the murder itself can also be used as a propaganda boost by the Neo-Nazis. There's going to be a lot more violence after the credits roll.

* Near the end, Derek is asked by Dr. Sweeney and a Police lieutenant to use whatever influence he still has with the Neo-Nazis to help them de-escalate tensions on the street after Cameron and Seth were assaulted in a DeletedScene. Because of Danny's murder, there is no way he's still going to do that, and the murder itself can also be used as a propaganda boost by the Neo-Nazis. There's going to be a lot more violence after the credits roll.

* The entire CycleOfHatred and violence in Derek's life was started when his hardworking albeit bigoted father was murdered by a black man while doing his job. Looking at the circumstances of Danny's death, what's stopping Derek from snapping right back into the mindset that made him such a notorious monster in the first place? This was, in fact, the original ending of the film.

* The entire cycle of hatred and violence in Derek's life was started when his hardworking albeit bigoted father was murdered by a black man while doing his job. Looking at the circumstances of Danny's death, what's stopping Derek from snapping right back into the mindset that made him such a notorious monster in the first place? This was, in fact, the original ending of the film.

* The entire cycle of hatred and violence in Derek's life was started when his hardworking [[spoiler: albeit bigoted]] father was murdered by a black man while doing his job. Looking at the circumstances of [[spoiler: Danny's death,]] what's stopping Derek from snapping right back into the mindset that made him such a notorious monster in the first place? It puts a whole new spin on Sweeney's question of "Has anything you've done made your life better?"
** Danny shouldn't have died. It should've just ended with a HappyEnding with Derek and Danny turning over a new leaf, renouncing bigotry, and working to fight bigotry. The canon ending ruins the whole story and inadvertently reaffirms bigotry as the MisaimedFandom can attest. Yes, Virginia; You can start a new life, you can break the cycle, there is redemption, there is hope.
*** Danny's death is a reminder of the still existing racial tensions that make bigoted mindsets so difficult to turn away from for people like Derek. It's a realistic representation of how turning a new leaf doesn't change the world around you, and how angry, hate filled mindsets only further foster these attitudes no matter who exhibits that behavior.

*** Danny's death is a reminder of the still existing racial tensions that make bigoted mindsets so difficult to turn away from for people like Derek. It's a realistic representation of how turning a new leaf doesn't change the world around you, and how angry, hate filled mindsets only further foster these attitudes no matter who exhibits the behavior.

** Danny shouldn't have died. It should've just ended with a HappyEnding with Derek and Danny turning over a new leaf, renouncing bigotry, and working to fight bigotry. The canon ending ruins the whole story and inadvertently reaffirms bigotry as the MisaimedFandom can attest. Yes, Virginia; You can start a new life, you can break the cycle, there is redemption, there is hope.

* The entire cycle of hatred and violence in Derek's life was started when his hardworking [[spoiler: albeit bigoted]] father was murdered by a black man while doing his job. Looking at the circumstances of [[spoiler: Danny's death,]] what's stopping Derek from snapping right back into the mindset that made him such a notorious monster in the first place? It puts a whole new spin on Sweeney's question of "Has anything you've done made your life better?"

* Murray being revealed as Jewish adds a new layer to his reaction to Danny's Mein Kampf essay at the beginning of the movie.