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