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Van Helsing

(2004, Rated PG-13, Horror, Starring Kate Beckinsale, Hugh Jackman, Richard Roxburgh)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    This is one vampire movie with bite.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence:

    Nonstop intense comic-book-style peril and violence, jump-out-at-you surprises and grotesque creatures.
  • Sex:

    Non-explicit sexual situation, brief mild references.
  • Language:

    Brief mild language.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Van Helsing

Parents need to know that this movie has non-stop and intense action, with characters in constant extreme peril. There are gross and violent images and many characters are killed. There are a lot of jump-out-at-you surprises and grotesque creatures. Characters use brief mild bad words. There are brief mild sexual references and a non-explicit sexual situation.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the original sources and enduring appeal of characters like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the Wolfman. They could talk about the villagers' decision that since the vampires killed only one or two people a month, they should not try to stop them. They might want to talk about the ending, whether it was a surprise and how they feel about it.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    great for tweens and up but little kids is prob a not good idea

    I've seen the movie quite a few time and sure it's strange but most sexual things for younger children in this movie will slide by but older will proabaly catch on,language is pretty mild,and the violence is bacily supernatural fighting it is of course a movie with vampires and werewolves.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    AWSOME!!!

    A good movie. But if young ones are afraid of vampires and werewolfes this is not a movie for them.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    violent but good

    I think this is a good movie but u dont need to watch it if u get scared easily because it can get scary for some people at times

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Not for everyone, but not bad

    The combination of the Frankenstein monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and the Wolfman was interesting, to say the least. For such an in-your-face, "oh-look-something-else-just-popped-out-and-scared-my-socks-off" movie, I thought they did a pretty good job. Hugh Jackman was wonderful as the title character, though I think that Kate Beckinsale overdid her Transylvanian accent just a tad. And honestly, what vampire-killing woman would, in her right mind, wear high-heeled boots? The vampire chicks, while a little freaky, were pretty awesome, though their outfits were defnitely veering towards scandalous. I thought Richard Roxburgh was wonderful as Dracula, and you had to love David Wenham as the bumbling friar with a perfect throw. The ending wasn't perfect, but it was satisfactory in its sadness, somewhat touching, and it did fit. The movie was kind of violent, a little gruesome, but hey, we're dealing with literature's most fearsome monsters, so what can we expect?

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Guaranteed To Keep You Entertained

    This is one great movie. I've seen this movie 4 times and it has kept me entertained every time. The visual effects are amazing and it has an intriguing story. This is no doubt a 5-star movie. One aspect that kept me entertained is that this is non-stop action. This movie is a roller coaster of a ride and never lets up for more than 2 minutes. I would give this a pause for 12 year old's. I think most 12 year old's could handle it, but some might get scared. There is no language in the movie, however in one scene, a women has implied sex with a man in return for saving her life. There are many scary monsters such as the werewolf, Dracula, his 3 wives, Dracula's kids (which are little flying monsters) and Mr.Hyde. There is lots of violence, however no gore, and very little blood. Consider watching the movie with your kid is he/she is scared easily.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Very fun movie

    If you're kids are going to watch it, you should know this movie is almost non-stop action, teens will absolutely love it. Adults might not like it as much due to it's relative lack of plot. But it's a very fun movie to watch, and it almost even made me cry at the end... though I won't give away why.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    pretty good till the end of the movie

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Mild Stuff

    I would not think that the movie was so bad had it not been for parcial naked vampires flying around the place. Dracula was rather scary and sometimes some shock moments would right on appear. But if you aren't strict about movies you should easily let your kids see this. If you are STRICT then I would recommend watching this movie first.

  9. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Exciting and entertaining

    Overall, this was a great movie. It was just that some parts were so....serious and with such dramatic music that it was almost funny when it shouldn't have been. It just could have been a but more subtle - it didn't need everything to spell out that it was supposed to be suspenseful. Otherwise, I really liked it.

  10. I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    a definate NO NO

    Don't watch this. Bad for kids, teens, everyone. Not only is it absolutely laughable, and just plain pointless, but its bad, as there are lots of monsters/vampires, etc. Shouldn't have been made.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 0.0

    Ugh!

    This is a totally and utterly despicable movie- it's a brainless film that will bore you to death! There are so many special effects the movie looks like a cartoon, and the characters are flatter than paper. Please dont see this dreadful movie- you'll thank me later.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 2.0

    OK comic book

    I watched this with my 13 year old, and by the end we both agreed it was kinda like a mildly amusing theme park ride neither of us would wait in line to ride again. It's visually spectactular, with the whole Universal lot of monsters rendered in pretty good CGI splendor. It would have been too scary for my 11 year old--if you have kids who are at all fright-adverse, find another movie. There are plenty of horror-movie type scenes where monsters stalk the protagonists. There's also this underlying semi-erotic theme of the well endowed she-vampires. Check out the recent "Count of Monte Cristo" for a better family adventure.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    Fun to watch but also a bit stupid.

    This movie was eciting to watch but a little stupid and the other stuff was bad.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Awesomely cool movie

    Yea this movie was great! Your favorite monsters are featured and your screen isn't broken -- just the first few minutes are black and white. The movie keeps you interested and puzzled at some parts. I say that any brave 5 year old could see it but I'd recomend it to 10 years+. The only downside is that the ending may not make sense. I do not recall any launguage but it's a great horor/comedy.

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

    Excellent!

    Totally loved this movie. Could watch again and again.

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