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The Covenant

(2006, Rated PG-13, Horror, Starring Steven Strait, Laura Ramsey, Chace Crawford)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Bland horror movie is more silly than scary.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Witch-boys are arrogant and selfish, save for one, who teaches others to be careful with their gifts (though he has to beat one apparently to death in order to impose this lesson).
  • Violence:

    Fights between witch-boys are brutal (slamming through walls, ceilings, and stacks of bottles, tossing farm tools, throwing fireballs), but unbelievable (cheesy effects); estate caretaker aims gun at intruders; girl assaulted by spiders; girl suffers hives and unconsciousness under a spell; barn burns during big showdown scene, with bodies smashing into each other and various walls.
  • Sex:

    Girl in a shower scared by foggy shape (her breasts remain unseen); in boys' locker room, shots of naked butts in the shower; passionate kissing in car by primary couple.
  • Language:

    Several uses of "s--t," as well as "son of a bitch," "hell," "d--khead."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Caleb's mother smokes cigarettes; prep school students drink beer and liquor at local bar; repeated discussion of the "power" as a drug, to which users become addicted.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Covenant

Parents need to know that the movie posits four handsome prep school students as descendents of witches, with destructive powers and arrogant attitudes. The film's violence includes plenty of bodies slamming against/through walls, as evidence of the "force" the boys wield, as well as cars flying off a cliff, crashing, and exploding, and spells that send girls into convulsive comas. A dead body alarms a policeman who discovers it in a car. A girl is threatened by a ghostlike figure in the shower. Prep school-aged characters drink, and talk about the power as addictive (alluding to drugs, sort of). A mother smokes and drinks liquor to show her displeasure with her life married to a selfish male witch. Some profanity.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the seductive nature of "power," whether metaphorical or literalized here. How does the movie suggest that power might be used in a positive way, as well as to prove oneself superior or to control others? How does the movie compare power to an addictive substance? You can discuss the Salem Witch Trials, jumping to conclusions, or judging people who seem different.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Gorgeous cast....

    OMG, this is the chick flick that wasn't really supposed to be. Why? 'Cause the guys are gorgeous. Especially Steven Strait. Good acting, and the effects aren't THAT bad. Caleb's dad is pretty disturbing. Fun to watch with friends, and perfectly appropriate for about 11+.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Stephen Strait is AMAZING

    Stephen Strait is so hot!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    HOT GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    for me the action scenes were pretty good, and the special effects too. but for me, the real highlight was all the sexy guys, running around half naked in the locker room(especially reid). the relationships were slightly formula, overall, i love this movie. but i think only teen girls will enjoy this movie, so girls, dont watch it with your boyfriends!!!!!!!!

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    awesome

    will be one of my altime favorites. Ive see it asout 20 times!!!!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    salem story

    i loved the movie it was amazing you could'nt have picked hotter guy's to be in it

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    It made me laugh

    The movie was very confusing you needed to pay close attention. Lots of the fighting scenes were unreal and silly.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I Love It!!

    I loved this movie!! It does show some guys butts but its only for a few seconds, its not like its a sex scene. This movie is okay for kids like 13 and older. ENJOY!!

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

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