Watch: Kids Play With Guns and Lay Out the Rules of Engagement in the First Five Minutes of ‘I Declare War’

A friendly game of capture the flag turns much darker in “I Declare War,” released today in theaters, iTunes and VOD by Drafthouse Films. The video below, featuring the first four and a half minutes of the film, establishes the “rules of war” in the kids’ world onscreen.  Rocks = Grenades.  Trees = Control towers.   Sticks = Submachine guns. You get the idea.

Even though it’s all make believe, it’s still unnerving to see the young actors carrying actual pistols, machine guns, crossbows and even a bazooka. Looks a little “Lord of the Flies” to us. Directed by Robert Wilson and Jason Lapeyre and written by Lapeyre, the film is sure to prompt discussion about kids and violence. 

Check out the video below: