The use of the word “nonce”, a cop drawing a picture of a penis and a bonkers comparison involving Josef Fritzl. And that was just the opening two minutes.
Shannon Matthews: The Musical… The Movie is out on Amazon today (November 15) and I was one of the first people to watch the production labelled “sick and bang out of order” - and it is totally f***ing outrageous.
Apologies for the swearing, but the film, based on Karen Matthews orchestrating the kidnap of her own daughter for financial gain, was littered with bad language, particularly the 'c'-word. So a warning in advance, don’t even bother with it if you are easily offended. Because offend it will.
In fact, the first words uttered by the Karen Matthews character (humorously portrayed by Samantha Hindman) are: “Thank f*** for that Craig, that’s the last of kids off to school.”
Later, she texts her children: “Go to school you little c**ts.” And if you thought that was bad, wait until you hear her disturbing last words in the film...
Making light of the very real childhood trauma involving Shannon was always going to be controversial but this was even more derogatory than what I imagined. It made The Book of Mormon feel like a musical for kindergarten kids.
Despite it being an ethical minefield, there were various funny moments, like when Karen fantasised about being famous.
Speaking to boyfriend Craig Meehan (humorously portrayed by Joseph McCallum), who was often seen lurking over his laptop, she says: “(I’d) f***ing love to be famous. Going on GMTV and meeting Ben Sheppard.”
But away from some decent punch lines, there were parts that many will argue went too far, and below we look at some distasteful moments (and I won't even get into the Jimmy Saville and Prince Andrew bits).
How Shannon was depicted?
Although the movie was named after her, no actor played Shannon in the film. Instead, it mainly focused on Karen, Craig and Michael Donovan, the man who hid Shannon under his bed.
Despite poking fun at the on screen characters, Shannon’s appearance was also referenced in derogatory terms.
One line of a song goes: “You’ll know if you find her, she’ll give you a scare, she looks just like a cabbage patch doll, but with greasy hair.”
Later, the detective leading the investigation into missing Shannon says: “Often, if a kid is not found in the first few days, it could mean they have been murdered by a nonce. Shannon’s chubby head were on the front cover of the newspaper.”
Madeleine McCann
Another controversial aspect was the constant comparison with Madeleine McCann who disappeared five years earlier in 2003.
One of the songs is called I’ve Got A Plan (Based on Maddie McCann) and the characters performed it under the backdrop of a Praia da Luz postcard, the resort town where Madeleine vanished.
At one point in the film, Karen rings the ‘Madeleine McCann appeal hotline’ to beg for some of their donations.
Shouting down the phone, she says: “It is only a couple of grand you’ve got f***ing loads there. Give us some f***ing money you selfless bitch. You don’t need it you’ve got f***ing loads.
“I’ve got a missing kid too, just because mine is not blonde and cute, you think it don’t matter that she’s been abducted by a sex case?”
Karen’s endless depraved one liners
Throughout, the detective inspector is haunted by Karen’s floating head while she repeats the words: “My beautiful princess daughter, diddled by a nonce case.”
You can make your own judgement about how distasteful this was, but it was one of many outrageous scenes in the film, up there with Karen talking about going to see Sticky Vicky in Benidorm.
She also used a homophobic slur when talking to boyfriend Craig before making wincing comments about her privates.
Before questioning Craig's sexuality with a vile dig that only the Urban Dictionary can explain, Karen's character then says: "Nowt the matter with my f****. When I was in hospital having a nipper, I got them to a put an extra stitch in when they sewed me up."
The crude oversharing line is something the viewers could probably do without to be honest - but then the movie isn't scared to hide its depravity.
Who is behind the film?
Independent artist K**t and the Gang originally performed his Shannon Matthews songs at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 before making the film version.
Before releasing it, he told the Daily Star that critics could stick to Ed Sheeran, Candy Crush and Mrs Brown’s Boys if they wanted to avoid offence.
He also argued the songs were “surely too ridiculous” to be offensive and said many Brits would find it challenging to digest something totally different to their favourite soap.
And taking the piss about our obsession with celebrities was a constant theme, with the Craig Meehan character echoing the words: “That rusty pram in garden, that’s real life. That exercise bike sticking out skip, that’s real life.
“Real life is not a bunch of washed up celebrities in middle of nowhere eating kangaroo c***s and being commented on by And and Dec.”
And in a press release ahead of the film, a line read: “The language used is brutal and outrageous, while the dark humour of the plot, the staged kidnapping of Karen’s daughter in an attempt to cash in on the reward money and the subsequent police search, is even more ridiculous and unbelievable for being based on real events.”
Before it was even released, it stirred up a huge reaction, including from ex-prisoners, Loose Women panellists and Dewsbury West Councillor Amma Anwar.
Will you brave watching the production? Let us know in the comments.
English (US) ·