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Parents' Guide to

Arlington Road

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Scary movie about terrorism. Not for kids.

Movie R 1999 119 minutes
Arlington Road Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Kyle J.
Kyle J. Parent of 9 and 13-year-old
March 8, 2023
age 3+

Good movie should watch

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
professionalmoviereviewer
professionalmoviereviewer Adult
March 30, 2020
age 17+

Haunting and very realistic movie about terrorism

I think Commonsensemedia have been harsh here - it’s definitely worth more than 3stars. It is an incredible movie with amazing acting and will keep u on the edge of your seat throughout. HOWEVER, it is very haunting, disturbing and realistic - it does open your eyes. If you have a kid who is 16/17 and they’re mature, then by all means watch it with them. It is a masterpiece. However, be wary that it is haunting and the ending is a shock.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ARLINGTON ROAD, Jeff Bridges plays Michael Faraday, a professor who specializes in terrorism, still grieving for the loss of his wife, an FBI agent who was killed in a Ruby Ridge-style shootout. He is befriended by a new neighbor, Oliver Lang (Tim Robbins). At first, Lang's family seems like an all-American family straight out of an "Up With People" concert, but Faraday begins to suspect that under their bright smiles and peppy friendship might be something very sinister. Faraday's friends think that he has become a little unhinged from his wife's experience. But as he continues to investigate, he discovers more and more disturbing information about the Langs.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Arlington Road is a very scary movie about a very scary subject -- terrorism. Indeed, its release was delayed due to concerns about the sensitivity of the material. This movie will give thoughtful teens some things to think about -- balancing the need for security against individual rights, the difficulty of deciding whom to trust, and the factors that lead to hate crimes.

The references to acts of terrorism in the US are so close to reality that they make this thriller more thoughtful than standard films in the genre. The very first image, of a boy walking in an immaculate suburb, bleeding from an accident, sets the stage for the unsettling story, and the ending is not only scary, but hauntingly so.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about balancing the need for security against individual rights, the difficulty of deciding whom to trust, and the factors that lead to hate crimes.

Movie Details

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