Sidney Lummet shows he still has the magic touch with this delicious little melodrama. Performances are sublime and the direction is exquisite. The reason I wouldn't recommend it for young children is because of the large amount of nudity (Marisa Tomei is at least topless most of the time) and sex. The movie starts with an explicit "doggy style" sex scene between Tomei and Seymour Hoffman's (Yay! you see his bare fat a$$:) characters.
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Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Mature heist film full of violence, explicit sex.
Why We Rated This 
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Parents need to know that this intense, mature heist film about two adult brothers who conspire to rob their parents -- no one is supposed to get hurt, but things go very awry -- definitely isn't for kids. It's full of loud, bloody, harrowing violence (including a robber exchanging gunfire with an elderly woman) and some pretty explicit sex scenes (thrusting, panting, naked bottoms, visible breasts/nipples). Several scenes show drinking and explicit drug use (cocaine, marijuana, heroin), and there's adultery, cigarette smoking, and plenty of strong language ("f--k," "s--t," and more).
Read our full review by Cynthia Fuchs
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the characters' bad/strained family relationships. Why do the brothers resent their father? How do they act out with each other? What role does Gina fulfill for both of the brothers? Do you think relationships like these are realistic? Is it more "entertaining" to see a movie about dysfunctional characters or functional ones? Why?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Certainly not for kids.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
Suspenseful Thriller of a Dysfunctional Family
This movie is inappropriate for almost everyone under the age of 17 so I gave this movie and "off" instead of a "pause." This movie is also not for people with weak constitutions because this movie contains extreme family dysfunction throughout the course of the film. Just to get this out of the way, this movie does not have an "uplifting" ending that most viewers would want. This movie is for people who want to watch a movie with character depth, dark but amazing story, and intense thrills. In this case, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead hits the mark masterfully.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
differing opinion
thanks!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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