The Boondock Saints film illustrates various causes and explanations for social deviance. One instance of this is depicted in the Subjective view of deviance through a Constructionist Theory. The Subjectivist viewpoint posits that a deviant individual is a conscious, emotional, and cognitive subject and that one ought to comprehend that person’s experience. According to the Constructionist outlook, deviants actively seek significance in their deviant actions. In the movie, the brothers are searching for meaning in their acts of killing. They perceive themselves as being on a divine mission and believe they will be safeguarded and blessed for their actions. The brothers in the film offer an intriguing case study on mass murder. Although they don’t murder everyone simultaneously and in the same location, their approach resembles that of a cult. They consider themselves entrusted by God to eliminate all criminals in Boston, akin to certain cults’ beliefs. Furthermore, most of their homicides are planned in advance.
According to the theory of Subculture of Violence, the murder committed by these brothers can be mainly attributed to their social standing and incapacity to break free from lower social classes. This theory suggests that individuals who are less privileged or impoverished have a higher tendency to partake in violent acts such as murder and rape due to social inequality. Poverty is seen as the underlying cause behind this violence in these instances. Rather than directing their aggression towards much wealthier individuals, the brothers focus on those with more authority, including those accountable for generating and sustaining poverty among other people.
Lastly, the actions of the brothers can be seen as acts of terrorism, but they are not directed towards the public. Instead, their targets are criminals and potential criminals. Here, terrorism refers to using violence against a government to force it into taking a particular action. In this case, the mafia family and all those involved in criminal activities represent the government within the city. The brothers’ objective is to send a powerful message to individuals involved in murder, rape, extortion, and other illegal acts: “Stop your activities immediately.”
