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Joshua

(2007, Rated R, Thriller, Starring Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Kevin Dorff)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sinister sibling-rivalry drama is majorly creepy.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Evil triumphs over good. Intelligent, loving parents are no match for a child with a deadly agenda and without a conscience. Superior brain power and artistic genius are equated with stop-at-nothing wickedness. A Christian fundamentalist is portrayed as well-meaning but narrow-minded and cluelessly ineffectual.

  • Violence:

    Much of the actual destructive behavior is implied and takes place off camera. A dead woman is shown with pooling blood around her. Animals die under suspicious circumstances. The lead female character is graphically seen stepping on broken glass. Child is beaten by father.

  • Sex:

    One scene of affectionate sexual foreplay between husband and wife. No nudity. A new mother is shown using a breast-pump.

  • Language:

    Plenty of swearing: "F--k," "bulls--t," etc.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Casual drinking: wine at dinner, a champagne toast. In one scene, a lead character drinks when upset.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Joshua

Parents need to know that this is a very scary movie about evil triumphing over good. The most vulnerable creatures -- animals, a newborn baby, loving parents and grandparents -- are stalked, threatened, and destroyed by a little boy who uses his extraordinary intelligence to wreak havoc on the world around him. There are upsetting deaths and some blood, though much of the actual destructive violence is implied and takes place off screen. Some drinking and swearing (including "f--k").

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the impact of implied violence in scary movies like this one. Are movies scarier when they show violent acts taking place on screen or when those acts are left to your imagination? Why? What statement is the film making about the nature of evil? Is Joshua purely bad, or is there any way he could be redeemed? How is his state of mind revealed by the music he plays? What role does music play in this movie and in other scary movies?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Miistukk19
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 1.0

    Boring...

    Not scary... almost not disturbing... BORING! Just a stupid kid who makes you wanna slap his face to wise him up!, an irresponsible mother and a silly dad that is cheated by his son ... Extremely boring... +o(

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    haleybugg
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  3. Adult Reviewer
    moviepro411
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Similar to "the good son"

    This movie has a similar plot to "the good son," which is an insanely creepy movie. Both are good with popcorn and a majorly comfy chair. Very scary, absolutely not for kids under 14 at the very youngest.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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