Thumbsucker

Based on Walter Kirn's novel of the same name, 17-year-old Justin Cobb has the "King Kong of oral obsessions": thumb sucking. Aided by his extremely dysfunctional family and a New Age orthodontist played by Keanu Reeves, Justin tries several substitutes that eliminate the superficial problem but fail to deal with his inner anxieties. Though they all strive desperately to be "normal", the Cobb family eventually realizes that Justin's idiosyncrasy is what makes them deeply human.

  • Starring: Vincent D'Onofrio, Lou Taylor Pucci, Keanu Reeves
  • Director(s): Mike Mills
  • Producer(s): Anthony Bregman, Bob Stephensen
  • Screenwriter(s): Mike Mills
  • Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
  • Animal Coordinator: Feathers and Fur Talent
  • Release Date: Friday, September 16, 2005

Featured Animal Action

As Dr. Perry Lyman begins to hypnotize Justin, an image appears of a deer nibbling grass in the woods. Crew members erected a three-foot-high plastic fence around the filming area and the trainer placed the deer on its mark inside. After scattering some deer food around, the trainer stood just out of frame while the cameras rolled. The Safety Representative on the set reminded all crew to stay very quiet during this scene to avoid distracting the deer. The deer had come from a petting zoo and was not afraid of people or noise.