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Our take
This is a slow-burn supernatural thriller that works on dread, keeping the gore light. It opens with a shooting and a death, and the ghosts the boy sees arrive suddenly and can disturb, some bearing signs of violence or self-harm. Grief, fear and a child in real distress thread through the whole thing, and one strand touches on a child who is harmed. The steady tension and heavy themes make it one for older teens.
Uplifting themes
Listening, courage and helping a frightened child feel understood sit right at the heart of the story. It makes the gentle case that facing what scares us, with support alongside, can bring a measure of peace The psychologist's patience and the mother's fierce, baffled love give the boy two steady anchors. Between them, they show how to stay close to someone who is quietly struggling
Story (may spoil tone)
Following an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe meets a nine year old boy named Cole Sear, who is hiding a dark secret.
Details
Violence Early on an intruder's attack leaves a character shot and bleeding, and…
Early on an intruder's attack leaves a character shot and bleeding, and several of the ghosts carry the marks of how they died. The violence itself is brief, though its aftermath stays on screen
Language In heated moments the s-word and bull s-word come out, together with a…
In heated moments the s-word and bull s-word come out, together with a few milder terms. It crops up now and then across the film and never turns into a steady stream
Drugs / alcohol Adults drink wine at home, and there is a passing joke about someone ha…
Adults drink wine at home, and there is a passing joke about someone having had too much to drink. It is all low-key and tucked into the background. Easy to miss if you are not listening for it. Not a drinking story
Frightening Ghosts appear without warning, the atmosphere stays cold and uneasy, an…
Ghosts appear without warning, the atmosphere stays cold and uneasy, and a handful of images are genuinely startling, all building a fear that holds. It is more haunting than bloody, yet the dread follows you home
Self-harm / suicide The film opens with a death by a person's own hand, and a later ghostly…
The film opens with a death by a person's own hand, and a later ghostly image briefly hints at self-harm. Neither is dwelt on, yet the theme hums quietly beneath the whole story
Child peril / abuse A frightened young boy is scratched, locked away and overwhelmed by the…
A frightened young boy is scratched, locked away and overwhelmed by the things he sees, and one thread involves a child who has died. The peril here is emotional and supernatural far more than bloody
Bullying / discrimination Classmates brand the boy a freak, taunt him and shut him away during a…
Classmates brand the boy a freak, taunt him and shut him away during a party. The cruelty is brief but sharp enough that kids will recognise that shut-out feeling. It sits under the ghost story as another source of his loneliness
Gore / death / weapons Among the ghosts you see gunshot wounds, blood and figures carrying the…
Among the ghosts you see gunshot wounds, blood and figures carrying the fatal injuries that killed them. The glimpses are quick but leave no doubt about how each person died
Dangerous behaviour In one scene a child offers to show another where a parent keeps a gun.…
In one scene a child offers to show another where a parent keeps a gun. The moment passes quickly, but that casual access is worth flagging for younger viewers
Mental health Fear, loneliness and the weight of holding a frightening secret shape t…
Fear, loneliness and the weight of holding a frightening secret shape the boy's whole world, while a caring adult works patiently to help him feel less alone. The distress is handled with real tenderness
Grief / bereavement Loss and mourning run through every part of the film, from a grieving p…
Loss and mourning run through every part of the film, from a grieving parent to the quiet ache of people who cannot let go. It is genuinely moving and may stir up big feelings
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- The boy hides his fear because he thinks no one will believe him. How do you want your family to handle secrets that feel too big to share?
- The film sits with grief and letting go. What did it make you think about saying goodbye to people we lose?
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