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Pathology (R, 2008)

common sense media says

Medical thriller mixes extreme violence, sex.

parents & educators say
  • 50% say violence is an issue
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
See all 5 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this brutal horror/thriller is definitely not for kids, despite the presence of Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia in the lead role. It's full of calculated, ingenious, premeditated murders that are performed as an intellectual and moral exercise, which leads to lots of gory, traumatized corpses. The movie's violent and sexual content are both pervasive and extreme, as well as frequently intertwined (characters use needles in foreplay, have sex at a murder scene, and more). Language, drinking, and drug use are also frequent and excessive.

Positive messages: The characters are part of a secret society of medical pathologists who challenge each other to commit untraceable murders; the group gathers around their victims to analyze one another's technique and then holds drug-fueled, sexual gatherings to "celebrate" their work.
Violence: Several murders, both on-screen and off, including smothering, murder by injection, stabbings, death by surgical procedure, and other startlingly creative (and violent) means of murder. Extensive footage of autopsy and surgical procedures, as well as post-mortem corpses and wounds, organ removal, and brute-force methodologies used to crack chests or remove skulls. Fistfights; assaults with blunt objects; slashings; stabbings. Characters literally make a game of murder as part of the film's plot. Discussion of a child molester's habits, past offenses, and predilections.
Sex: Sex and violence are frequently intermingled. Pathologists use severed heads to discuss whether or not women fake orgasm; fist fighting and acupuncture needles are part of foreplay; a woman slashes her tongue with a scalpel as a prelude to a kiss; repeated onscreen sexual activity includes a sex act at a murder scene; a woman's clothes are cut off with surgical tools. Also bisexual kissing, extensive nudity, characters tour a seedy brothel, naked buttocks and breasts visible, and extensive montages of couples having sex in a variety of positions.
Language: Extensive and pervasive, including "f--k," "damn," "hell," "s--t," "bitch," "whore," "c--t," and "p---y."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters drink to excess (both beer and hard liquor); medical marijuana is abused; several characters smoke crystal methamphetamine; "whippits" (nitrous oxide inhalers) are abused.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Pathology

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the fact that the movie mixes extreme violence with sex. What's the difference between positive sensuality and fetishized mingling of sex and violence? Why would filmmakers gravitate toward the latter instead of the former? What messages does this movie send about sex and violence? Families can also discuss the ethical and professional checks and balances that exist to prevent abuse by real-life medical personnel. What are the stakes when those systems fail?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Brilliant young pathologist Dr. Ted Grey (Milo Ventimiglia) has accepted a position in the pathology department of a major urban hospital. His new co-workers are hardly welcoming, but soon charismatic Dr. Gallo (Michael Weston) shares his hidden philosophy with Ted: "It's in our nature to kill." Turns out Gallo and his co-workers have been killing randomly-selected victims ... and challenging one another to try to discern their inventive "perfect murders." After joining the group, Dr. Grey soon finds that getting out is much more difficult than getting in.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
With recent PG-13 horror/thriller films like One Missed Call, Prom Night, and Shutter having breezed in and out of theaters, it's at least refreshing that PATHOLOGY makes no bones about what it is: A grisly, R-rated thriller. Director Marc Schoelermann has clearly been reading the David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) playbook, as his film takes place in a visually majestic (yet still terrifying) city of secrets and conspiracies.

Kudos also to screenwriters Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor for refusing to take any easy ways out with Ventimiglia's character; Ted isn't a starry-eyed innocent embroiled in trouble, but rather a willing participant in his own damnation. Pathology is trying to shock audiences, and it succeeds -- but at the same time, it at least does so through its characters and with bleak conviction, not just with endless buckets of blood.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Marc Schoelermann
Cast: Alyssa Milano, Michael Weston, Milo Ventimiglia
Genre: Horror
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: April 16, 2008
DVD release: September 22, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: disturbing and perverse behavior throughout, including violence, gruesome images, strong sexual content, nudity, drug use and language
This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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What parents & educators say

17
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say violence is an issue
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 50% say language is an issue
  • 50% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

quaycomputer
adult
 
very fleshy
the plot of this movie is very interesting filled with gory cuts. Of course, full nudity should be expected since the movie is mostly focus on cutting dead(or alive) bodies - autopsy. Even though, sex scenes are not neccessary.
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (8) | read my mind (7)
_momo_
adult
17
 
Mature only.
I love this movie. I think if the person that's seeing it knows what they are doing is wrong(murdering people to be able to play their "game") then it can't force the person to do it too.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (4)
PPAMom
adult
17
 
You should think twice before wasting time & money on this one!
Wow, this movie was basically soft-porn!! Not good for any age, I'm afraid. The whole plot was unbelievable in almost it's entireity, and we couldn't wait for it to be over!!!!
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)
huskaroo
adult
 
Don't Bother.
Sick and pointless, no rational explanation and so on.Poor acting, script and way too violent and sexual.Not for children.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
16
 
Ow.
I seriously can't believe I was the only teen on this site who reviewed this.It's an absolute waste of time.I watched this movie in the cinema with my dad and I was like the only kid there Lol.Guess others know how to spend their time wisely.This is an extremely mature film not to be viewed by anyone under the age of 17.Tons of gore,flesh,nudity,and who can forget,the language?You wouldn't want your kids to turn into rotten sailor mouth beings or much worse,become serial killers when they grow up do you? Update:Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore,strong sexual references and aberrant behavior.What do you expect from a movie about a bunch of people trying to commit the "perfect" murder?
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