What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this extremely violent thriller is full of potentially controversial/offensive social commentary about extreme right-wing religious radicals, gay bashing, the effect of the Patriot Act, and Internet porn. Though the movie's dark mood isn't typical for writer/director Kevin Smith (who usually makes edgy comedies), the content is everything you'd expect from the man behind Clerks, Dogma, and Chasing Amy: extremely strong, constant language and sexual innuendo. This time Smith ups the ante by adding brutal violence, including torture, imprisonment, murder, blood, gore, and many, many dead bodies. There's also teen drinking and a scene of an adult drinking to drunkenness.
- Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence. What is its purpose? Is it necessary to the story? When does media violence cross the line? And who determines where that line falls?
- Are there any examples of a healthy relationship in the movie? Are any of the characters role models?
- How does this movie compare to Kevin Smith's other films? Does he have a consistent agenda? How would you define it?