Nature of the Beast (NR, 2007)
common sense media says
Werewolf romance isn't really family friendly.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this suspenseful made-for-TV movie includes occasionally bloody violence and multiple scenes of gun use. Frightening werewolves hunt and attack humans, biting them to pass along the curse or, in one case, devouring them altogether (the act isn't shown, but a character is said to have died this way). When humans shoot a werewolf to protect themselves, his wounds heal instantly without affecting him at all. There's drinking, references to drug use (two teens seek out herbs that will get them high), kissing scenes and allusions to sexual activity (including mention of orgasm and being "in the mood"), and some iffy language (mostly "hell," "ass," and "damn").
Positive role models:
Julia is devoted to Rich and to finding a way to help him so they can be together, but characters also do a lot of iffy things -- including drinking too much and attacking humans.
Violence:
Many scenes include gun use, and characters aim weapons at both humans and werewolves. A werewolf's bullet wounds heal instantly after he's shot. Snarling, slobbering werewolves hunt and attack humans, and a few scenes briefly show violent, bloody bites (throat, thigh). A mutilated raccoon is shown, and there's discussion of a man disfiguring corpses. A minor character is said to have died from an attack. Human-to-werewolf transformations include a lot of screaming and moaning. A woman stabs a werewolf, who bursts into flames and evaporates.
Sex:
Several kissing scenes and references to sex (a couple talks about "being in the mood," a woman mentions orgasms, college guys talk about "getting laid," sex lives are discussed, etc.). In one scene, sex between an engaged couple is implied (they kiss, then it cuts to them in bed together). The size of werewolf genitals is discussed. An unmarried couple lives together.
Language:
Fairly infrequent use of expletives like "ass," "bitch," "hell," and "damn."
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Two teens raid a man's personal belongings for potential drugs and take Wolfsbane, excitedly saying it's "bound to make you high." In a later scene, their drug use is implied as they talk about smoking away their problems and hallucinating. One scene also shows a group of friends drinking excessive amounts of beer.
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Nintendofan
adult
adult
Do NOT let your kids see this
I saw the commercials advertising this movie as part of ABC family's thirteen days of halloween, and expected it to be a cute family friedly movie. I was shocked and disgusted to find out that it was not. CSM usually does a good job of telling you everything that is in a movie, but they didn't get half of the movie's sexual content on this one. It was pretty rank. Although there are no actual "make out" scenes, sex drips form half the lines of dialogue. Two boys talk about "walking in" on their grandmother, a college flash back shows three guys sitting around a table talking about sex while the oldest makes references to "getting laid" and his "natural talents", At a meeting three women ask Julia about her sex life in very graphic terms, and later in the movie the werewolf hunter says that one way you can tell an Alpha Wolf from a Beta Wolf is that in human form they have an exceptionally long ____ (insert male anatomical term here, and yes they actually say the word and not just a euphimism) There was also one scene were it is implied that the engaged couple have sex, but nothing more is shown past the two falling back on the bed kissing while undoing the man's tie. The next scene shows the two lying in bed undressed.
The violence was also pretty graphic for a supposedly family friendly movie. A were-wolf attacks one man and violently bites opens his throat, accompanied by screaming and crushing sounds. A dog is eaten. A man is violently bitten on his thigh. After becoming a werewolf he is shot and shown to be in pain. We also see a shot of a disemboweled raccoon, which I found disturbing. Also there is talk of a man mutilating corpses, because he believed them to be vampires.
Finally there was a very explicit drug scene in themovie parents should know about. After sneeking off into the woods, two boys sit and smoke herbs they found in the main characters suitcase, and talk about getting high and hallucinating. They also picture the two boys to be sweating and appearing "stoned" while saying things like "smoke it off"
Overall I thought this movie was very inapprpriate for children or teens for that matter. Even adults who have strong values such as myself, may find this movie to be disgusting. CSM is my favorite and most trusted website for family viewing, but they undrerated this one. It definately should have gotten that TV-MA.
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Decent Guy
adult
adult
Ouch - didn't see rating beforehand.
Have 3 kids - 11, 8, 5. I ASSUMED with it being ABC FAMILY that is was probably a safe scare.
Wow - was I wrong. The kids got a kick out of the monster violence. They know it's pretend.
However - the two boys looking for a drug high were totally non-essential to the story line and the cussing was for the sake of cussing. ABC - in their infinite wisdom - ruined what could be a Halloween classic by trying to be edgy.
The caveat was that I did NOT see the show rating before hand. So I am responsible for letting them watch it.
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