Common Sense Media Review
Silly thriller has creepy mix of sex, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
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Perfect Stranger
What's the Story?
Rowena (Halle Berry) -- a New York City journalist who writes as "David Chase" -- prides herself on uncovering other people's secrets. When her story about a U.S. senator's sex scandal is squashed, she quits in a huff, protesting that it's another instance of "powerful men protecting powerful men." She then runs into a childhood friend, Grace (Nicki Aycox), who begs her to seek reprisal against just such a "powerful man": multimillionaire advertising exec Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis), who met Grace online, shared a bout of wild sex, then dumped her. Almost as soon as Rowena says she'll think about it, Grace turns up dead. Now Rowena's vengeance is personal.
Is It Any Good?
Another techno thriller in which the "techno" looks hopelessly out of date, Perfect Stranger would be laughable ... if its combination of violence and sex weren't so creepy. The movie deals with an ostensibly serious topic: namely, the many ways that contemporary life encourages "secrets" (that is, lies) -- in online relationships, undercover journalism, corporate espionage, and advertising. But it soon gets so mired in its protagonists' multiple pathologies that you wish they'd just come out in the open, act out their grudges, and get it over with.
Apparently unable to stop itself, PERFECT STRANGER piles on some nightmares for Rowena (she was traumatized by a bad stepfather as a child) and her ex, Cameron (Gary Dourdan), who shows up for steamy-seeming sex and an argument that has little to do with anything else. She's eventually so unable to keep track of her own actions that the movie's ostensible "twist" is less surprising than ridiculous.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why sex and violence often intersect in thrillers. How do movies and TV shows make sex seem bad or good? Do any of the characters in this movie use sex -- or even the idea of sex -- as a weapon? What messages does that send? Families can also discuss secrets. Is it ever good to keep secrets from people who trust you? What are the possible consequences of being caught in a lie or a secret?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 12, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : August 21, 2007
- Cast : Bruce Willis , Giovanni Ribisi , Halle Berry
- Director : James Foley
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 109 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, nudity, some disturbing violent images and language.
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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