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Highlander (1986)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Very violent, time-tripping immortality fantasy.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    A pretty clear line between Connor Macleod and Ramirez and other immortals as good guys, while those like the Kurgan are wicked and corrupted by their immortality and near-invulnerable states. Nice romantic touch: Connor, though ever-youthful, remains faithful and loving to his 16th-century wife, right up through her dotage and death from old age. Respect for spirituality insofar as immortals cannot duel in churches or other "holy ground," but a feudal warrior-priest is shown blessing enemies on the battlefield as he kills them.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Decapitations. Bloody clashes on a medieval battlefield result in slashings, stabbings, drownings. Brutal beatings. "Immortal" characters sprayed with machine-gun fire or run through with swords, injuries from which they recover straightaway. Pedestrians run down in deliberate car mishaps. The villain boasts of committing a rape.

  • Sex:

    Cleavage in a prostitute character. Vulgar verbal references to homosexuality and gay sex acts. One lyrical, shadowy (heterosexual) sex scene.

  • Language:

    "S--t." A Spanish profanity. "Jesus Christ."

  • Consumerism:

    Food product labels and names of newspapers. The wall-to-wall Queen music on the soundtrack is almost as famous as the movie itself. A plug for pro-wrestling and Madison Square Garden opens the drama.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mention of cocaine and marijuana. Tavern drinking in ancient and modern times, comical drunkenness, and a vintage wine appraised by Macleod lovingly.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Highlander (1986)

Parents need to know that the abundant violence in this fantasy includes, most famously, the bloody beheading of several characters via swords. Other characters, some gifted with miraculous healing powers, others not so lucky, are stabbed, shot, slashed, impaled, beaten, drowned, etc. There is one darkened sex scene montage and hints of prostitution. Some scenes involve immortals indulging themselves in dangerous and reckless behavior, including one getting repeatedly stabbed while drunk (immortals do seem to enjoy their liquor). This inspired a series of movies, some (like the first sequel) going further with nudity and profanity than this one does.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the dilemma of immortality that this premise sets up. How would an immortal be expected to behave living through the centuries, watching loved ones die and the world change? You might research legends and folklore about "real" immortals, like the Wandering Jew and Saint-Germain. Some of the brighter vampire movies (and the Harry Potter stories) are concerned with the pursuit of immortality at any price as well. Ask kids what they would do with (or for) eternal life, and what are their favorite fictional treatments of this theme.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Chambear
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    A great magic/myth film!

    This film starring Christopher Lambert is very well-made! The only things that make it bad are a few medium gory decapitations (That is how the highlanders can only die), some non-gory violence, a sex scene with no nudity seen and infrequent cursing. So for ages 13 and up, go for it!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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