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Our take
Black Mass follows a crime boss whose FBI connection helps him stay in power. The killings arrive suddenly, and the threat of the next one hangs over the quieter scenes. Strong swearing, drugs and a cold, bleak tone keep this for 16 and up in our house.
Uplifting themes
The film is a warning about what happens when people look away from wrongdoing because it suits them. Nobody is rewarded in a way that feels worth copying Gives older teens a window into 1970s and 80s Boston, organised crime, and how corruption inside law enforcement can grow. It is a useful starting point for talking about the real case
Story (may spoil tone)
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Two men are shot dead in a car, a man is shot in the back of the head,…
Two men are shot dead in a car, a man is shot in the back of the head, and others are punched or choked to death. The killings arrive suddenly, and the threat of more hangs over many scenes
Language The f-word is used constantly, along with the s-word, a-word, and slurs…
The f-word is used constantly, along with the s-word, a-word, and slurs aimed at disability. Nearly every character swears in nearly every conversation
Sex / nudity Sex stays mostly in talk, including a crude story told in conversation,…
Sex stays mostly in talk, including a crude story told in conversation, plus a brief beach scene, a crowded club dance floor, and a couple kissing in a kitchen. Nothing explicit is shown
Drugs / alcohol Cocaine use and dealing are part of the gangster world, and characters…
Cocaine use and dealing are part of the gangster world, and characters drink and smoke at bars and gatherings. Drugs sit behind the crime plot and are not the main focus
Frightening Menace sits under almost every scene, with quiet threats, cars pulling…
Menace sits under almost every scene, with quiet threats, cars pulling up at night, and a man who can turn violent without warning. The dread is steady and slow, with few jump scares
Bullying / discrimination Put-downs and slurs fly between characters, and intimidation is a norma…
Put-downs and slurs fly between characters, and intimidation is a normal way of dealing with people in the neighbourhood. The cruelty is mostly aimed at people the gang considers weak
Gore / death / weapons Bodies lie covered in blood after shootings, and one car killing is sho…
Bodies lie covered in blood after shootings, and one car killing is shown in very graphic, bloody detail. Guns are in nearly every tense scene, and a few shots linger on the aftermath
Grief / bereavement A young child's illness and death bring real family grief, and the loss…
A young child's illness and death bring real family grief, and the loss changes how the main character acts. Other deaths are marked at wakes and funerals
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
What other parents think.
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Talk after watching
- Almost everyone around the main character knows how dangerous he is. Why do you think so many people kept helping him anyway?
- The film shows loyalty and friendship being used as a weapon. Where did you see someone pick loyalty over doing the right thing?
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Black Mass
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