Our take
This is a dark R-rated crime thriller about a missing child and a copycat killer. Expect long dread, bloody violence, an on-screen suicide, talk of past rapes and murders of minors, and strong language. The themes are very upsetting even without graphic sex. Only for older teens who already handle grim crime films
Uplifting themes
A broken father and son try to protect a child together. The overall tone stays grim Some cops are brave and try to do right. Other adults lie, drink, or lash out You could talk about copycat crime and how old cases haunt a family. It is still a thriller, not a lesson
Story (may spoil tone)
When his young son vanishes, a widower enlists help from his estranged father, a retired detective who put away the serial killer now linked to the case.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Stabbings, a brutal fight, assaults, and talk of past murders. One man…
Stabbings, a brutal fight, assaults, and talk of past murders. One man is badly hurt. A prison scene shows a father attack his son
Language Expect the f-word, s-word, motherf-word, b-word, and c-word in argument…
Expect the f-word, s-word, motherf-word, b-word, and c-word in arguments, police work, and father-son fights
Drugs / alcohol Adults drink, and someone smells of alcohol. A tense scene mentions fen…
Adults drink, and someone smells of alcohol. A tense scene mentions fentanyl. A father's old drinking is part of his past
Frightening A child vanishes. A creepy playground rhyme, late-night whispers, and t…
A child vanishes. A creepy playground rhyme, late-night whispers, and tapes of a captive boy keep the dread high
Self-harm / suicide A suspect dies by suicide on screen rather than be arrested
A suspect dies by suicide on screen rather than be arrested
Sexual violence Talk of a killer who raped and murdered a young girl. Past child sexual…
Talk of a killer who raped and murdered a young girl. Past child sexual abuse is central to the case
Child peril / abuse An eight-year-old boy is kidnapped. Missing children, captivity, and ki…
An eight-year-old boy is kidnapped. Missing children, captivity, and killers who target kids run the whole film
Gore / death / weapons Bloody stabbings, a screwdriver wound, and bodies found in grim hiding…
Bloody stabbings, a screwdriver wound, and bodies found in grim hiding places. Some injury detail is graphic
Dangerous behaviour A dad hunts suspects on his own with no backup. The film does not treat…
A dad hunts suspects on his own with no backup. The film does not treat that as smart
Mental health Guilt, obsession, and old trauma weigh on the adults. Fractured family…
Guilt, obsession, and old trauma weigh on the adults. Fractured family ties sit under the crime story
Grief / bereavement A father raises his son after the mother's death. Loss shapes the famil…
A father raises his son after the mother's death. Loss shapes the family at the centre of the case
Talk after watching
- The story is about fathers and sons. What does a child need from a parent after a loss?
- A missing child is the whole plot. How did that sit with you?