Thriller
Thriller movie reviews
Underwater-Kids’ Movie Review
Norah hears a thumping sound and notices water coming from the ceiling. Norah (Kristen Stewart) is a twenty-something mechanical engineer on a deep sea research project. However things go awry when something damages their lab beyond repair. In order to survive, Norah and her research team must put on their diving suits and walk across the ocean floor to reach another station. During this endeavor they come across some interesting and dangerous creatures. Underwater is a sci/fi thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 9, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Between all the action and adventure there are some comedic parts as well. One of the crew members says, “What’s a fish say when he runs into a wall . . . Dam.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see male and female characters in their underwear.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Sci-fi violence. There’s battle with deep sea scary monsters. We see them eating humans.
- Several characters die and the surviving humans have bloody wounds and broken bones.
- Frightening explosions in the boat.
- Humans implode inside their deep sea suits.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear “f–k,” “ass,” “damn,” “g-ddamned,” “hell,” “s–t” numerous times throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a sci/fi thriller. Parents need to be aware of the violent content and profane language.
Winchester-Kids’ Movie Review
Are haunted houses real? Winchester, set in 1906 San Jose, Ca, follows the life of rifle heiress Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren). After Sarah inherits her husband’s profitable rifle company she’s determined to build a mansion. After all, many people have died by the Winchester guns, so this is her way of dealing with the ghosts of those who have passed. Things get complicated when the board of the Winchester Rifle Co. hires Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) to evaluate Sarah’s psychological state. When Dr. Price interviews Sarah he discovers that’s she’s spunky and clever. Price eventually realizes that Sarah Winchester talks to spirits and that her seven story mansion, filled with hundreds of rooms, are actually built for the victims of the Winchester guns. Price learns that Sarah Winchester’s ghosts are real… and so is her haunted house. Winchester is based on true events.
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 1, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a male character with three women; he’s shown kissing each of them. It’s implied that they might be prostitutes.
- A woman’s naked back is shown.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There’s some gun violence. One scene shows a flashback of a mass killing.
- A child is possessed by a spirit and is shown shooting a woman. He also jumps off a house ledge.
- A painting appears to bleed.
- There are several ghosts in creepy scenes.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “b–ch” said once.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- A main character has a drug and alcohol problem. He frequently ingests drops of laudanum from a glass dropper. He also drinks from a flask, and enjoys drinking whisky at home.
Will Kids Like It? No
- I interviewed some teens who thought the film wasn’t that scary and even somewhat boring.
Overall this is a horror film based on true events. Parents need to be aware of the violence and drug and alcohol contents.
47 Meters Down- Kids’ Movie Review
Nothing like a vacation in Mexico. Beautiful resorts, crystal clear water, and entertaining night clubs. Sisters Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt) are definitely enjoying their relaxing getaway in Mexico until Kate decides they need some adventure. Besides, Lisa’s boyfriend dumped her before the trip because she’s so boring so Kate wants to get her sister out. After a night of dancing and drinking they meet two handsome local men who invite them on a shark-watching expedition the next day. Now the adventure begins as Lisa and Kate join their new friends on a rickety old boat. Shortly after the girls enter the cage the cable snaps and the shark cage sinks to the bottom of the ocean…47 meters down. With limited oxygen and white sharks circling nearby, Lisa and Kate must try and remain calm and figure out how to survive.
Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 26, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see women in revealing swimsuits.
- One of the girls asks if the wetsuit makes her “butt look cute.”
- We see couples kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There’s a lot of blood swirling in the water from bleeding wounds and disgusting chum buckets.
- There are shark attacks.
- Characters are trapped at the bottom of the ocean in a cage. There is a lot of suspense.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word once. We also hear “sh-t,” numerous times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking at a night club.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a suspenseful drama that will keep you at the edge of your seats. Parents need to be aware of the disturbing scenes.
Unstoppable Review
Unstoppable is based on a true story, about an unmanned, runaway train filled with explosives and toxins traveling through Pennsylvania. It’s up to a veteran engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington), and a young conductor Will Colson (Chris Pine) to prevent a major catastrophe from happening.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: February 15, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
The premise of the movie is about a runaway train, and that’s it. You may think, how can I watch a ninety-eight minute movie about a runway train? Well, you will be on the edge of your seat the moment that train is loose. This is an entertaining, suspenseful, action packed movie, one that my three kids and I thoroughly enjoyed.
Frank Barnes(Denzel Washington) and Will Colson(Chris Pine), are two very likable characters, and at completely different stages in life. Throughout all the action, we see an emotional side to them. We hear about Frank’s (Denzel Washington) two daughter’s, who work at Hooter’s restaurant, and Will’s (Chris Pine), struggles with his marriage. These are two average guys trying to save thousands of lives.
I brought my 14 year old daughter, and 13 and 11 year old boys. My daughter was not interested in seeing it. She typically likes a good “chic flick,” but she loved this movie. She thought it was very interesting, and was at the edge of her seat as well. My boys loved the action, though after the movie my eleven year old said, “I will never ride on a train.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- There are no sexual references or scenes. They show a couple scenes at Hooter’s restaurant, which was fine.
Violent Content: Excessive
High-action film, which may frighten younger kids.
- The train, which is going about 70 mph, crashes through many obstacles on it’s track, there are loud explosions and noises.
- At one point, the runway train is headed towards another train, which is full of young kids on a field trip. This was a very suspenseful part.
Profanity: Excessive
There were a lot of swear words used throughout the whole movie. I read in a review that, “The crassness only serves to distract, and it derails any fun a family audience might have had.”
Overall this is an entertaining movie. However, with the heavy profanity and high-action intense scenes, I would recommend this movie for kids ages eleven and up.
Tower Heist Review
Who wouldn’t want to live in The Tower? A beautiful Central Park condominium in New York City, with a building manager that will pamper you to your hearts desire. Yes, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) takes care of his residents, especially Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), an investor who lives in the penthouse and keeps a red Ferrari, once owned by Steve McQueen, in his living room. All seems well for the staff and residents at The Tower until the day Josh(building manager) founds out that their investor, and penthouse owner, has stolen their retirement funds. So now Josh, along with some of his staff, and street thug, Slide (Eddie Murphy), plan the ultimate revenge to reclaim their money. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in this comedy adventure about a group of average Joes who plan a hilarious robbery.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: February 21, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Josh (Ben Stiller) is a good guy, who truly feels bad for his employee’s financial loss. Josh is devastated when the doorman tries to commit suicide, due to his financial struggles. Josh responsible for their loss and will do whatever it takes to help his staff.
There’s not a moral lesson or redeeming quality to this film, in fact it’s just the opposite; none of us want our kids planning a robbery. However, Tower Heist is so unrealistic that it’s funny and entertaining. It’s a suspenseful, fun movie.
The film has an all-star cast, to name a few: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Tea Leoni. They’re a unique group in this comedic film.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are many sexual comments and references; for example Slide (Eddie Murphy), leaves the room and says he’s going to have sex with his girlfriend. When looking at a photo of a chesty women, who’s identified as a lesbian, Slide mentions that he prefers women with big busts.
- We see an employee reading Playboy.
- Josh (Ben Stiller), steals panties from Victoria’s Secrets, and shoves them down the front of his pants.
- There’s a lot of talk about male and female sexual parts.
Violent Content: Mild
- In one scene Josh is very upset and smashes a car with a golf club.
- One character is shown hanging from the top of high-rise, over a crowded street.
- The doorman attempts suicide as he walks towards an oncoming train.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear a lot of swear words throughout the film; words such as “d–n,” “a–” “h—,” and “b–ch.” There are jokes about “vaginas,” “balls,” and “farts,” that are said numerous times as well.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Two characters have a lot to drink at a local bar; they get very drunk!
Overall I found Tower Heist to be a funny and entertaining movie. Having said that, it’s a PG13 movie, with an excessive amount of profanity in addition to some sexual references and comments. Parents need to be aware of that before sending their kids. Depending on your child, I recommend this film for kids ages 13 and up.