Panic Room (R)
Extreme suspense, graphic violence; not for kids.
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Movie details
- Studio: Artisan Entertainment
- Directed By: David Fincher
- Cast: Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker
- Running Time: 112 minutes
- Release Date: 03/29/2002
- Video/DVD Release Date: 09/17/2002
- Genre: Thriller
- MPAA Rating: R
- MPAA Explanation: violence and language
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has extreme suspense and some graphic violence. A child is in peril. Characters use strong language.
Families can talk about what the characters do to escalate the level of violence, and how acting from emotions as opposed to reason can aggravate problems, no matter how satisfying it may seem at the time. Divorced families will be especially interested in Sarah's father, who has in no way abandoned his daughter.
Families can talk about what the characters do to escalate the level of violence, and how acting from emotions as opposed to reason can aggravate problems, no matter how satisfying it may seem at the time. Divorced families will be especially interested in Sarah's father, who has in no way abandoned his daughter.
Message
Social Behavior:
Racially diverse cast
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Character drinks to excess
Violence
Extreme violence Constant peril and suspense
Sex
Mild
Language
Very strong language
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Nell Minow
This thriller, in the claustrophobic mode of Rear Window, finds Meg (Jodie Foster), a recent divorcee, and her combative daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart), trapped in the secret vault/bomb shelter/safe room set up by their apartment's previous owner, a paranoid millionaire with a squabbling family. The least favorite cousin, Junior (Jared Leto), has broken into the apartment with the help of security expert Burnham (Forest Whitaker) and tag-along psycho Raoul (Dwight Yoakam). The bad guys want in to the vault, where the old millionaire hid his millions. The girls just want to get out, but the protected phone line inside the room hasn't been activated yet (they just moved in). Meg's inner mama tiger takes over escalates as the burglars take more and more drastic steps to try and enter the impregnable vault, and Sarah moves from being a tough, sullen teen to a tough, sullen, wily teen.
Is it any good?
PANIC ROOM is not a movie about insight into the human condition or subtle, complex characters. This is just a movie about scaring the heck out of you, and it does that very expertly. On the outside, Forest Whitaker gets to play the good bad guy, while Mr. Leto and Mr. Yoakam act progressively more evil.
For a story which should have been a claustrophobic battle of wits, too often it's simply a battle of violence, although there are some riveting action sequences. And while the family dynamics are underdeveloped, the film does show how divorced parents and their children can remain a family even after separation.
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Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 2 reviews.
Age 17+
Posted on 06/09/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Adult Reviews
There are 2 reviews.
Age 17+
Posted on 06/09/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Kids Reviews
There are 0 reviews.
There are no kids reviews.
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