Struck By Lightning Review

Messages: Aside from the key blackmail aspect of the story, there are actually several positive messages: asserting your independence in high school, being confident in your ambition, and doing what you need to do to succeed beyond high school. 

Role models: Even though Carson is smart and ambitious, he also alienates his classmates and doesn't think twice about blackmailing his rivals to do what he wants. Still, he makes it clear that he's not going to suppress his opinions or go with the crowd just because it's what people expect. He's opinionated and broader-minded than anyone else in the movie. Malerie is a loyal, unconditional best friend to Carson. She always looks on the up side of things.

Violence: The movie begins and ends with the death of the main character, who is -- as the title makes clear -- struck by lightning. His dead body is briefly shown.

Sex: Two high-school guys are caught fooling around in a bathroom stall (they're shown fixing their rumpled clothes), and the captain of the cheerleading team has sex with the coach of the football team (they're in an office and start kissing passionately on top of a desk). A guy mentions that he has never seen a particular sci-fi film because he "sleeps with girls" instead, and a woman and a young pregnant pharmacist discuss contraception and premarital pregnancy.

Language: Occasional use of "s--t," "a--hole," and "bitch," plus insults used against a couple of overweight and unpopular kids. Carson himself also insults the popular kids and their intelligence and small-town mindsets.

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Carson's mother is drunk a lot and is shown drinking alcohol on a regular basis (usually wine); she's also a prescription-drug addict. Carson is on anti-depressants.