What we flagged
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Our take
This is a genuinely frightening slasher that helped define modern horror, following a teenage girl stalked by a masked killer. There are repeated stabbings, chases, and bloody deaths, plus heavy swearing and a plain reference to a past rape and murder. A brief, discreet teen sex scene and party drinking sit alongside the scares. It is tense and gory in equal measure, and firmly an older-teen and up watch at its restricted rating
Uplifting themes
Beyond survival and some loyalty between friends, there is not much uplift on offer here. The film is far more interested in suspense and twists. Resourcefulness under pressure is about the main takeaway The heroine is brave, smart, and refuses to be anyone's victim, which gives the film a strong centre. The adults and friends around her are a mixed bunch. She is the one worth rooting for
Story (may spoil tone)
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
What we flagged
Details
Violence The killer strikes again and again with a knife, and several characters…
The killer strikes again and again with a knife, and several characters are chased, stabbed, and murdered across the film. The set-pieces are sustained and brutal, even if stylised. This violence is the engine of the whole story
Language Strong swearing is frequent, with the f-word and s-word running through…
Strong swearing is frequent, with the f-word and s-word running through arguments, scares, and the killer's taunts. Insults like b-word and b-word turn up as well. It is heavy enough to notice from start to finish
Sex / nudity A teenage couple sleep together in a brief, discreet scene, and a stead…
A teenage couple sleep together in a brief, discreet scene, and a steady stream of sexual banter and innuendo runs alongside it. Nothing explicit is actually shown. The content is clearly aimed at a teen storyline
Drugs / alcohol A house party brings plenty of teen beer drinking, and there is some ta…
A house party brings plenty of teen beer drinking, and there is some talk of smoking in years past. It stays casual and social, well short of a real plot point. Still, it is a room full of drinking teenagers
Frightening The scares are the whole point, with a relentless masked killer, jump s…
The scares are the whole point, with a relentless masked killer, jump scares, dread-filled phone calls, and a long siege of a finale. The tone is nerve-shredding and built to unsettle. It can linger with younger or sensitive viewers
Sexual violence The backstory turns on a woman who was raped and murdered, spoken about…
The backstory turns on a woman who was raped and murdered, spoken about plainly in news reports and dialogue. The assault itself is never shown, but it is a real and recurring thread. It is grim information, and it lifts the age on its own
Gore / death / weapons Knife wounds, blood, and bodies feature across the murders, including a…
Knife wounds, blood, and bodies feature across the murders, including a few graphic moments. Several deaths are shown with real impact. The gore is a clear part of the film's identity
Grief / bereavement The lead is still grieving her murdered mother a year on, and that loss…
The lead is still grieving her murdered mother a year on, and that loss shapes much of her story. It surfaces in painful, personal moments. There is genuine sadness sitting under the scares
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 constantly points out the rules of horror movies. Did that make it more fun, or more frightening?
- Sidney is still carrying the loss of her mother. How does the story let her be scared and strong at the same time?
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