The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has labelled a film documenting the death of her beloved son as “awful” and called for it to be banned from Oscar nominations.
Denise Fergus has spoken openly about her frustration at the movie Detainment and the possibility it could be up for an Academy Award in February.
More than 82,000 people have reportedly now signed a petition to have the short film removed from the Oscars shortlist, after it emerged the family were not contacted by film makers during production.
“I cannot thank everyone enough for all their support about getting the Oscars to revoke the short list nomination,” she said, according to The Mirror. “I am overwhelmed by the public’s support regarding this awful short film that has been made about my son’s murder.
“Not only that but to not even tell the family their intention to do this film has made me so deeply upset.”
James was murdered by 10-year-olds Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in 1993. Detainment is based solely on a series of disturbing police interviews with both boys, who initially denied their involvement in the two-year-old’s disappearance.
Fergus’s comments come after her ex-husband Ralph Bulger said it will be “horrific” if the film ends up winning an Oscar, as has been predicted.
Speaking openly to The Mirror last week, the devastated dad branded the film “offensive” and said he nor any other members of James’ family were contacted by film makers during production.
Bulger admitted while he has seen many documentaries and news stories about the death of James over the past 26 years, Detainment takes things to another level. The short drama is based solely on police interviews with 10-year-old murderers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
“I have never been so cut up and offended by something that shows so little compassion to James and his family,” he told The Mirror.
“I accept this is a murder of such magnitude it will always be written about and featured in the news but to make a film so sympathetic to James’ killers is devastating.”
Last week the film’s director Vincent Lambe apologised to the Bulger family for not consulting them before making the movie and insisted he never set out to capitalise on their pain.