Essay Questions

In the film A Vigilante, how does Sarah Daggar-Nickson present the physiological impacts of domestic abuse?

Daggar-Nickson chooses to use the film technique of flashback to drip-feed information to the viewer so that we slowly build up the full picture of Sadie's past. As a result of the hurt and anger that her husband causes her while he abused her and then in harming her child, Sadie is permanently scared both physically and mentally. This damage leads her to channel her anger and hatred to do good in her eyes, to repeat the violence that she experienced, but this time by reversing the roles: to help those in need.

What is the significance of Sadie's Husband remaining unnamed throughout the film?

For the viewer, by not revealing the name of Sadie's husband, he is seen as more distant and isolated from reality. This means that rather than representing a specific person, he instead is an archetype for the abusive people in society, which the viewers can recognize and acknowledge. It also establishes him as a more hateful character, as though he is not worth having a name as he is so despicably evil.