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The Village

(2004, Rated PG-13, Thriller, Starring Adrien Brody, Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard)
  • 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?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Thought-provoking thriller too intense for some.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    All characters are white, but they include some strong women and a developmentally disabled character.
  • Violence:

    Intense peril, characters killed, some graphic images and scary surprises.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Village

Parents need to know that this is a very tense and scary thriller that may be too much for some tweens. Know your kid. While much of the scary stuff is in the audience's imagination, there are some scary jump-out-at-you surprises and some gory graphic images. Characters are attacked and killed. Some viewers may be concerned about the portrayal of a developmentally delayed and possibly disturbed character.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what drew the families in the village to settle where they did in spite of the risks. They could also think about whether there were any clues in the movie that pointed to the ultimate twist. Why did Edward send Ivy? The movie was originally called "The Woods." Is that a better title? What is the scariest part of the movie and why?

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Our Members Say

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See all 45 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    good for ages 10 to 13

    i think it is good but will be too boring for most kids.it has bad messages because a charachter stabs a charachter because he got married to a girl the stabber liked. it has a little blood and only a scene of violence but it is scary.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Mature teens+.

    Most of this movie, I think could generally be acceptable for 13+, but some parts push that, ie graphic descriptions of violent and sometimes s**ual crimes, and a bloody murder scene. Not for young kids.

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Most of this movie would probably be ok for most children who are 13+, but there are some scenes that push that. There's a disturbing murder sequence, and a brief sequence where characters discuss horrible, and sometimes s**ually innappropriate things that happened to their family members. Some very tense moments.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Awesome movie that has been extremely underrated

    This movie is genius. It has got to be one of my favourite movies and definitely M.Night Shyamalan's best. The style and way that it is directed is amazing. There are some jump out parts but the twists are just awesome. Watch it with the volume turned all the way up if you want the full effect.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    it is xtremly dumb thre is no action

    i hate it because there is no action and even though it is approprite kids will probably be bored to death by it

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    good movie

    love it. Creepy surprising and awesome. you should see it. saw it when I was 10

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    good movie

    good but can be scary at some moments.

  8. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0

    this is like a kids horror!

    i saw this film when i was eight and it was really funny because my step-dad was throwing stone at my window so i cept on looking around nervously!

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME! I'M NOT EVEN JOKING! PLEASE READ!

    the best movie I have ever seen in my life, it has the strong connection with the characters, a thought provoking message and story that will stay with you forever, powerful acting, and it is so exquisetely beautiful. I get so angry when people do not appreciate movies like this and say it is a waste of time. They obviously know nothing about movies, and for an added bonus I make movies myself, so yeah i do know. This truly is (i'm not joking) my favorite movie of all time. Praise the lord for m. night shyamalan! Amen

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Another amazing movie by M. Night.

    This movie is... Incredible! I've never seen nor heard of anything like this one. The story is so unique, and very thought provoking. Mature viewers will be given a lot to think about. There is some disturbing violent content, and a graphic/disturbing stabbing. Aside from that, the main issue is the scariness. It is very intense. I do not think anyone under 13 should be watching this, although mature 13 year olds should be fine.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

    Pretty good...

    This movie suprised me. I didn't think it would be that good, but if you can get through the first twenty minutes, the rest is amazing. There is no sex whatsoever and maybe two exclamations of 'oh my G-d'. Violence: There is a stabbing, a guy holds up his hands, which are covered in blood. Another 'creature' attempts to attack someone, but ends up falling and dying. There are some VERY intense moments, but nothing graphic in this movie. I highly recommend it.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Noone under 13 should watch this

    This movie is an excellent movie, but only for teens and up. The tension in this movie is very high, and from the moment it starts until the moment it ends your heart is elevated, much like one of M. Nights other movies: Signs. However this one has a graphic and disturbing stabbing scene, which is pushing the limits even for a PG-13. Sensitive 13 and 14 year olds will not be able to handle this movie, and even non sensitive ones will find it scary and intense. Good movie for 13 and up!

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great thriller!

    This being my favorite movie, I have to give it a good review. It is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Even I thought it a little scary.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    thanks

    this was a vary good mivie

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    this was the funniest movie i have ever seen!!!

    this was the worst movie i have ever seen it was horrible it made my stomach hurt (from laughing so hard of course) magic rocks magic rocks ahhh YOU LOOK LIKE A MAD CHEESEBALL!! AHHHHH

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

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Not one of M. Night Shamylan's best...

    First of all, I must say that if this is your first M. Night Shamylan film, don't watch it and then decide that he is a corny director. M. Night Shamylan has made many wonderfully creepy films, like the Sixth Sense and Signs. the village is pretty good, but nothing compared to the two title I just mentioned. M. Night Shamylan film fans will have to see this, but they will be disapointed. Its story is pretty good, its scares and mediocre, but the end, if you see it the right way, has a very good message. It is pretty much an average film. I liked it, but M. Night fans won't. For little kids, this movie is very scary but probably not night-mare inducing. The end will expain it all to the little kids like a scooby doo episode, but the tell-tale monsters in the film are very scary when seen. There isn't any language or sexual content or anything else except that for social behavior, there is one man who is disabled in the film who attempts to murder someone in the film and dies a very sad death at the end. So parents, know your kid, because this is enjoyabel but scary for little kids. However, any kid who has seen the Sixth Sense or Signs and been okay about it will be fine with this film. Its not very frightening compared to other films.

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    Bored me to death.

    I don't realy remeber much, because I haven't seen it in a long time. So here is waht I remember. To tell tell you the truth I fell asleep. It realy bored me. And it confused me. It jumped around a lot, and that's what I hated about it. I'm not a very patient person so maybe that's why. My grandmother loved. So give the movie a chance and watch it. Some will get what I'm saying, others won't.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I lost six brain cells watching this!...sort of.

    It was a good movie, in my opinion, no different from Signs in scariness. Better plot in my opinion. Good movie. check it out.

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

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