Controversial film on James Bulger's killers makes Oscars shortlist

A short film based on the notorious killers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson has been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination.

‘Detainment’ provides an insight into the two ten-year-olds who shocked the world in 1993 when they abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old Jamie Bulger.

While the 30-minute film has been praised by many film critics, some viewers believe it should not have been made at all, as it could be seen as humanising Venables and Thompson.

Director Vincent Lambe told Good Morning Britain he wants to give viewers a different perspective on the brutal murder, rather than simply labelling the killers as ‘evil’.

“A lot of people might say they feel it’s wrong to humanise them, but if people can’t accept the fact they were human beings, they would never be able to begin to understand what could have driven them to prevent such a crime,” he said on the programme this morning.

However, Mr Lambe admitted he hadn’t asked James Bulger’s family for permission first.

“Well it probably wouldn’t have been made if [Denise Fergus] said ‘no’,” he conceded.

“The film is not meant to bring any more anguish to them. I think it’ll be a very difficult watch for them.

“It is a short film, it is not a film I made to profit from financially, I was as surprised as anyone when it was shortlisted for the Oscars.”

When pressed on why he would continue to make the film without permission he said: “The film is not meant to be sympathetic, it’s not meant to make excuses, but it does show an accurate reconstruction of the police interviews and it’s entirely factual. There are no embellishments whatsoever.”

Good Morning Britain reached out to Denise Fergus, mother of James Bulger, who said she was angry she was never told about the making of the film.