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Our take
A husband believes his wife is innocent and risks more and more to get her out of prison. The Next Three Days begins as a family drama, then becomes a chase involving guns, a meth lab and a young child under strain. A suicide attempt adds to the weight. We would watch with a parent from M.
Uplifting themes
Shows deep family loyalty and a refusal to give up on someone you love. It also makes clear that desperation leads to risky and illegal choices John is a loving, determined dad, though many of his choices break the law and put other people at risk, including his own son Raises questions about how courts treat evidence and what happens when every appeal runs out, with plenty to talk about afterwards
Story (may spoil tone)
Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison.
What we flagged
Details
Violence A man is beaten and kicked in an alley, a hostage is pistol-whipped, an…
A man is beaten and kicked in an alley, a hostage is pistol-whipped, and a drug-house fight ends in a fatal shooting and a burning house. A flashback shows a woman struck with a fire extinguisher, without graphic detail
Language The s-word, a-word, and b-word come up regularly, with other strong ins…
The s-word, a-word, and b-word come up regularly, with other strong insults in arguments and the drug-house scene. Mild words like hell and damn are common, and the f-word surfaces only occasionally
Sex / nudity A dinner opens with a low-cut top and some sexual innuendo, and a husba…
A dinner opens with a low-cut top and some sexual innuendo, and a husband and wife kiss passionately before the film cuts to the bedroom. Nothing is shown beyond kissing and a cuddle
Drugs / alcohol A meth lab and its dealers are central to one tense stretch, with cooki…
A meth lab and its dealers are central to one tense stretch, with cooking visible and a pill bought from a dealer to set a trap. People also drink socially and spend time in bars
Frightening The first hour and a half is slow, then the escape plan turns into a ve…
The first hour and a half is slow, then the escape plan turns into a very tense chase with near misses and a small boy in the middle of it. Once the action starts it rarely lets up
Self-harm / suicide A woman attempts suicide after losing hope, and her husband races to th…
A woman attempts suicide after losing hope, and her husband races to the hospital. Her despair drives much of the story, and the focus is on the shock and aftermath
Child peril / abuse A six-year-old boy is dragged along on a stressful journey and ends up…
A six-year-old boy is dragged along on a stressful journey and ends up in tense situations tied to his father's plan. He stays safe, but his fear and confusion are clear
Gore / death / weapons A beaten man's face is badly bloodied, and a fatal gunshot leaves some…
A beaten man's face is badly bloodied, and a fatal gunshot leaves some blood on screen. A slumped body is seen after a flashback attack, but the camera does not linger
Dangerous behaviour John studies how people escape prisons, including how to forge papers a…
John studies how people escape prisons, including how to forge papers and make keys, and the methods are shown in some detail. Teens may be curious, though the film also shows the risks
Mental health Years of grief and strain leave the husband exhausted and desperate, an…
Years of grief and strain leave the husband exhausted and desperate, and his wife sinks into despair. Their pain feels believable and the film treats it seriously
Grief / bereavement A family is separated by a prison sentence, a young boy misses his moth…
A family is separated by a prison sentence, a young boy misses his mother badly, and a father is slowly worn down. The sense of loss is steady in the first half
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
- John believes in his wife so strongly that he breaks the law. When does loyalty stop being the right thing?
- The film shows how a long wait for justice wears a family down. How did each person cope, and what might have helped?
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The Next Three Days
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