New York, July 3, 2007 – We began our Independence Day holiday by spending time with a demonic little kid, and this was before our annual family picnic. It was a special cast and crew screening of the psychological thriller Joshua. Unfortunately, child actor Jacob Kogan, who plays the creepy, stuffed-animal-slashing title role didn’t attend – we hear that the 12-year-old is Dakota Fanning-level precocious. Director George Ratliff insisted that no live animals were harmed in making the movie, but the cute little stuffed guinea pig given to moviegoers had crude stitches running along its belly.

“I might have a slight trepidation about embarking on motherhood”, Vera Farmiga said, after playing the scary kid’s mother in the movie.

Star Sam Rockwell was stuck on a film set in Connecticut, and couldn’t make the screening, but his pal Josh Hartnett showed up, but avoided cameras. The Black Dahlia star planned to celebrate July 4 on an airplane – he said he was leaving the next day for Hong Kong to begin work on a film.

Joshua opens on July 6, so you can spend part of your Independence Day weekend with the creepy kid, too.