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Our take
Once the boats meet the storm, the crew spend a long stretch fighting waves they cannot control. People die, and the ending leaves real grief behind. We would save this for a teen who can handle sustained peril and a story built around loss.
Uplifting themes
Crew loyalty and courage under impossible weather still matter. The story also shows how pride and payday pressure can tip people into danger Skipper and crew keep trying to save one another when the storm peaks. Heroes here are stubborn working people, not invincible action stars
Story (may spoil tone)
In October 1991, a confluence of weather conditions combined to form a killer storm in the North Atlantic. Caught in the storm was the sword-fishing boat Andrea Gail.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Waves smash boats, a helicopter goes down, and crew are nearly swept ov…
Waves smash boats, a helicopter goes down, and crew are nearly swept overboard again and again. A shark is killed with a shotgun blast after it bites someone on deck
Language One clear f-word sits among many s-words, g-word, hell, and ass. The sw…
One clear f-word sits among many s-words, g-word, hell, and ass. The swearing fits rough dock and boat talk, not a nonstop barrage
Sex / nudity Couples kiss early on, and there are some sexual references among the s…
Couples kiss early on, and there are some sexual references among the sailors. The film soon moves its attention to the boats and the storm
Drugs / alcohol Bar nights are thick with cigarette smoke, and the men drink heavily be…
Bar nights are thick with cigarette smoke, and the men drink heavily before the trip. Ashore habits stay social, not instructional
Frightening Most of the back half traps people inside a ferocious storm with rogue…
Most of the back half traps people inside a ferocious storm with rogue waves and capsizing boats. Underwater drag sequences and failed rescues make the sea feel inescapable
Gore / death / weapons Bloody noses, bruised faces, and fish being gutted or beheaded show com…
Bloody noses, bruised faces, and fish being gutted or beheaded show commercial fishing up close. The shark shooting adds a sudden burst of blood
Grief / bereavement Loved ones ashore live through long waits and the cost of work at sea.…
Loved ones ashore live through long waits and the cost of work at sea. The film sits with loss as much as with spectacle
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 crew chase a big catch even as the weather turns deadly. How do money pressures change the risks people accept at work?
- Families wait on shore with little news. What helps when someone you love is in danger and you cannot reach them?
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The Perfect Storm
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