What we flagged
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Our take
Reservoir Dogs is a brutal crime film about a robbery that falls apart. Most of it unfolds through tense talk in a warehouse, with relentless strong swearing, a man bleeding out, and a notorious torture scene. Racist language, heavy smoking, and crude sexual talk add to the adult tone. This is well outside family viewing.
Uplifting themes
Loyalty between a couple of the men is the only warm thread, and even that ends badly. There is little here to admire and plenty to question These are criminals with few redeeming traits, though one shows genuine loyalty to a dying partner. No one here is built to look up to
Story (may spoil tone)
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Violence is prolonged and bloody, from a point-blank shooting to a draw…
Violence is prolonged and bloody, from a point-blank shooting to a drawn-out torture scene and a tense final standoff. One wounded man bleeds across the floor for much of the film. It is graphic and meant to disturb
Language The f-word is used relentlessly, often several times in one exchange. S…
The f-word is used relentlessly, often several times in one exchange. Strong language is a defining feature of the film
Sex / nudity There is no sex or nudity, but the film opens with a long, crude breakd…
There is no sex or nudity, but the film opens with a long, crude breakdown of a pop song's sexual meaning, and blunter sexual talk follows. The talk is explicit even though nothing is shown
Drugs / alcohol Characters smoke almost non-stop, talk about buying and carrying weed,…
Characters smoke almost non-stop, talk about buying and carrying weed, and drinking comes up around the crime. Substance use is casual and constant background texture
Frightening The torture sequence is genuinely sickening, and long stretches hum wit…
The torture sequence is genuinely sickening, and long stretches hum with the threat that anyone could snap at any moment. The dread of the warehouse standoff sits heavy throughout
Bullying / discrimination The criminals repeatedly use racist slurs and crude generalisations in…
The criminals repeatedly use racist slurs and crude generalisations in casual conversation. The language is part of how the film portrays them, but it can still be jarring
Gore / death / weapons Blood is everywhere, with gunshot wounds, pooling injuries, and an infa…
Blood is everywhere, with gunshot wounds, pooling injuries, and an infamous moment of mutilation. Guns are drawn and fired at close range throughout. The injury detail is strong and lingering
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 film makes criminals charming and funny. How does that change the way the violence lands?
- Loyalty and betrayal drive every scene. What did you make of the choices these men make under pressure?
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Reservoir Dogs
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