Iffy for 16+
Radioactive mutants attack in waste-of-time horror movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Chernobyl Diaries is a horror movie about young people who decide to tour the abandoned towns near the infamous nuclear power plant. Some of the violence, including attacks by wolves and radioactive mutants, is more suggested than shown, but the movie still has plenty of blood, gore, and dead bodies. A gun is also fired many times. Language is strong, with frequent uses of "f--k" and "s--t" throughout. There's some sexual innuendo and kissing in the beginning, as well as some drinking (and hangovers). Chernobyl Diaries comes from the creator of Paranormal Activity, but it isn't anywhere near as creative as that film or its sequels.
- Families can talk about the movie's violence. What's shown, and what's suggested? Which is scarier? Why? Is the movie scary? Or is it more suspenseful? What's the difference?
- What do you think about the choice to set a horror movie in a place where a real-life disaster took so many lives?
- Do the characters make reasonable decisions throughout the story? What are some choices they could have made differently?
The good stuff
-
Messages: Aside from warning viewers not to enter an abandoned area contaminated by nuclear fallout, the movie has very little to say.
-
Role models: Characters argue and make poor decisions while failing to work together. Characters occasionally try to act heroically, but often these aren't the right decisions.
What to watch for
-
Violence: Dead bodies, both humans and animals, are shown. A character has a gory leg wound with a bone sticking out. Guns are fired, and one character is shot. Wolves and radioactive mutants attack. Characters get radiation burns on their skin.
-
Sex: Some sexual innuendo during the movie's first 20 minutes. Characters kiss, and one man plans to propose to his girlfriend.
-
Language: "F--k" and "s--t" are used frequently throughout. Other language includes "p---y," "ass," "hell," "Jesus" (as an exclamation), etc.
-
Consumerism: Not an issue
-
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters are shown drinking (beer, vodka) during a night on the town. Some of the characters are shown with hangovers the next morning.
Fan Reviews provided by
3
Typical-Dont Pay full price for this movie by largato
Ok movie at a matinee price. Of course the characters deserved to die, instead leaving when they had the chance they have to go back and look for their friends that have been ripped part..
4
Well.... by ShadesVA2FL
I was definitely pleasantly surprised with the film. I wish there was a rate in between 'GO' and 'Must GO!' cuz thats where i would put it. If you wanna see a movie that'll make you jump its definitely a must see kinda movie. aside from the scares, the movie wasnt bad and I say its worth seeing.
3
Eh... by TxMyke
Just didn't think it was all that great...typical horror movie...bad decision after bad decision...not worth going to the movies...if you can wait for the dvd I'd wait...
3
Chernobyl Hills have Eyes by Deceitfulpenguin
The movie was simply put..ok. To me it seemed like another Hills Have Eyes, but in Russia. There is also abit of a controversial underline to the storyline, but other than that, it was alright. It starts out slow and very suspensful and the last 20-25 minutes feels as if the director was running out of time and just pasted everything in a rush to fill in that movie gap. To me, this was a rent one.
3
Chernobyl Diaries by TheBlackEbert
Just caught the matinee for Chernobyl Diaries. Six tourist go on a "Extreme tour" of the town that was abandon by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster and I think you all know what happens from there! The town ISN'T so abandon and the pissed off hungry Chernobylese(and their pets!!) think that our tourist are a pizza delivery! LOL! There was a couple shocks but nothing to keep you up at night. D-
4
Spotty Story & Acting, Great Suspense by VegasGiblet
While not particularly well-written or thought-out, the idea behind this film is scary enough.
Built around the concept of extreme tourism, a group of 20-somethings decides to visit Pripyat, the town directly next to the Cherynobyl nuclear disaster. Once their car dies and their tour guide goes missing, the proverbial s*** hits the fan.
Then, the story does become a predictable, yet strangely compelling. There is something truly terrifying about the thought of being stuck in an abandoned city like Pripyat. Especially with the threat of nuclear levels rising without realizing the danger.
The best part of the film is that the jumps are in place where they need to be. By the end of the film, my hand hurt from holding my boyfriend's hand so hard.
The writers then phone it in more than they already had and took a ridiculous way out. They bank on a quick ending with no resolution.
In any case, there were points during the film where I was scared s***less. So go. There.
3
Better then your average scary movie. by Darkfox
I'll be quick.
People who like going to scary movies will appreciate this movie.
I've seen a lot of scary movies and this one (Chernobyl Diaries) perpetuates common flaws (Unclear story line, characters that feel like investigating weird sounds, yelling in places that you know you shouldn't be actively attracting attention and so on) but it succeeds in a pretty major way.
The characters were well acted.
The setting and the way that the people get together and get to where most of the movie takes place is interesting and feels historically sound and visually interesting/exciting.
Once the action starts, there are breaks but it never truely lets go. This factor creates one of the best traits in any movie style = no clock watching.
The full spectrum of the characters and antagonists will not be explained.
The tension build up is well done and it's exciting!
It was a scary history channel special. Well shot, a lot of historicaly information, good scares and a great pace.
4
yeaaah! by deidyc
Walking out of the theatre I heard mixed reviews from the audience I was with and while one of them said it was "the worst movie they'd ever seen" I highly doubt that. The setting is scary enough since it still exists and my boyfriend said it reminded him of Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the way the suspense was built which is true! This movie has a nice amount of parts that will make you jump, and parts that will make you hold your breath while you explore Chernobyl's ruins with the characters. It's not going to be super gory or the scariest movie you will ever see, but you should give it chance. My boyfriend and I kept talking about it all the way home.
1
Completely disappointing by bsieraroski
This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Do not bother going to watch this. You'll only be wasting money and time. You know those scary movies where you know that they shouldn't do something, like yelling in a dark building? Well basically everything you could possibly do wrong in that situation, they did. I wouldn't even bother buying it when it comes out. Im extremely upset that this movie sucked because it could've been a better movie if it were done by a different director. Congrats on being the worst movie I've seen in a while..
3
So-so by obsessed_movielover
Chernobyl Diaries was kind of like a Hills have Eyes but better and without perverted messed up people. The movie is pretty good all the way until close to the end. The end RUINED IT. Wait for it to come out on Netflix.