The Moth Diaries Review

Messages: The Moth Diaries begins with a tough and confusing problem, and the way to deal with it isn't clear. Help is requested but not received, and the problem is solved with violence. Suicide is a major theme as well. The main character thinks about it and must decide whether or not to do it.

Role models: The main character mostly breaks down when faced with something troubling or challenging. Her strength seems to come through moments of pain, and her only moment of triumph manifests itself in destructive violence (for which she pays a penalty).

Violence: Two flashbacks to suicide victims, with lots of blood. A razor blade is the implement used, and viewers see it again and again. In a dream sequence, a girl slices her wrist, and it "rains" blood all over a library. The main character gets a terrible bloody nose. Several dead bodies. Threats ("I'd like to kill her"). A sex scene includes screams of pain.

Sex: One quick sex scene in a dream sequence. A boy is shown on top, thrusting. The girl is shown first moaning and then screaming in pain. One naked breast is shown. Another partial breast is shown during a suicide sequence. A teacher kisses a female student and begins unbuttoning her top. Two women are shown naked in bed together, though nothing sensitive is seen (the scene is meant to imply vampire-like violence as well as pleasure). Persistent sex talk throughout, including discussions about women's "cycles.

Language: Language is very infrequent but includes one use of "f--k." The rest is mostly sex-related talk/insults: "whore," "virgin," "dyke," etc.

Consumerism: A single mention of Facebook.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Teens are shown smoking pot in two scenes. Some of them react badly; one girl collapses on a bed, feeling sick, and another goes crazy and throws a chair out a window.