What we flagged
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Our take
A boy is kidnapped and his father tries to bring him home, eventually taking a risk the police do not want him to take. Ransom keeps the child under threat for much of its running time, then adds bloody shootouts and frequent strong swearing. We would wait until MA 15+.
Uplifting themes
The father refuses to give in to what the criminals demand and puts his son's safety first, even at huge risk. The parents hold together under pressure The parents show love and nerve under stress, though the father's choices are reckless in ways kids should not copy. The mother's strength is easy to admire
Story (may spoil tone)
When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Gunfights, a shot agent with blood spurting, punches to the face, and a…
Gunfights, a shot agent with blood spurting, punches to the face, and a hard blow to the throat run through the film, mostly in the second half. Threats to kill a boy hang over many scenes, and several characters die in a loud, bloody finish
Language The f-word and s-word come dozens of times, with g-word, b-word, and b-…
The f-word and s-word come dozens of times, with g-word, b-word, and b-word alongside, and an anti-gay slur turns up twice. The harshest swearing sits in the kidnappers' scenes and the father's angriest moments
Sex / nudity A man's bare buttocks show briefly as he gets into bed, and two people…
A man's bare buttocks show briefly as he gets into bed, and two people kiss and talk under the covers. Nothing else is shown, and the moments pass quickly
Drugs / alcohol Some smoking and drinking show up in the background, and a character's…
Some smoking and drinking show up in the background, and a character's struggle with alcohol is mentioned in passing. None of it is a focus of the story, and nobody is held up as a role model for it
Frightening A boy is grabbed, blindfolded, and held at gunpoint, and the film stays…
A boy is grabbed, blindfolded, and held at gunpoint, and the film stays inside his fear for long stretches. Phone threats, ticking deadlines, and sudden gunfire keep the tension high
Child peril / abuse A young boy is kidnapped, held in a dark house, and threatened with a g…
A young boy is kidnapped, held in a dark house, and threatened with a gun by the people who took him. His fear and his struggle to stay calm are shown on screen
Gore / death / weapons Gunshot wounds, blood spurting from a shot agent, and a few bodies appe…
Gunshot wounds, blood spurting from a shot agent, and a few bodies appear, mostly in the shootouts. Guns are drawn in many scenes and are used to threaten a child, which makes the weapons hard to shrug off
Grief / bereavement A family waits through hours of fear for their son, and talk of funeral…
A family waits through hours of fear for their son, and talk of funerals and loss comes up around the criminals. The emotional weight is heavy but not drawn out
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
- The father makes a choice that goes against what the police advise. Did you think it was brave, risky, or both?
- The kidnapping is shown from the family's side and the kidnappers' side. How did seeing both change how you felt about each group?
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Ransom
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