 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Roommate
- Review Date: February 3, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Lukewarm, sexually tinged thriller has some bloody scenes.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this cliched thriller starring Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester centers on a young woman who’s dangerously obsessed with another, to the point of violence. The movie has many creepy scenes -- and violent ones, including some with gore and blood, beatings, stabbings, and more. And a general air of malevolence hangs over the whole movie. There's also some swearing (including "s--t” and “a--hole”), sexuality (including two women kissing), and underage partying.
What's the story?
Soon after she moves into her dorm room as a freshman, Sarah (Minka Kelly) befriends her roommate, the seemingly cheery Rebecca (Leighton Meester). But the possibility of an enduring friendship dissipates when Sarah can no longer stand Rebecca’s clingy entreaties, and odd developments can’t be explained away. Even her new boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) thinks something has gone awry. But in Rebecca’s eyes, it’s not up to Sarah: She won’t stand for abandonment in any form, and she will try everything -- anything! -- not to be alone.
Is it any good?
At first glance, THE ROOMMATE meets the bar of a successful suspense thriller. Yes, there’s the eerie lighting and soundtrack. And it starts with a setup that clearly delineates whom to cheer for and to fear. Clues are dropped immediately that hint at a future, massive confrontation. And there are the requisite references to psychological dysfunction and a subsequent, all-consuming, violent breakdown.
But that doesn't mean it actually works. The film is listless and lazy, lumbering along on clichés that are frankly annoying. Opportunities to add depth -- references to the villain’s horrible childhood, for instance, or even her fascination with modern art -- are wasted. Meester gives sinister a good college try, but her character is an odd mix of cheesy and malevolent. Suffice it to say that this is no obsession classic like The Talented Mr. Ripley or Single White Female (which it’s clearly referencing). Those were at least entertaining. This one’s not.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes a movie a thriller rather than a horror film. What's scarier -- things that are shown, or things that are suggested?
What's the impact of this movie's violence?
What messages is the movie sending about its two main characters? Does it paint young women in a positive or negative light overall?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
14 and up.
The Roommate is a average movie good for your teens and parents you need to know that The Roommate has intense violence some sexual content some strong language used and some drinking and drugs used such as primarily beer and spiked punch and A vial of meds prescribed for schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
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For older teens.
I saw this movie last night, expecting it to be really scary. It turns out, the movie was more sick and twisted than scary. For one, a character puts a cat in a dryer (I got mad when that scene was on- I'm an animal lover). In another scene, you see the same character beating herself up and later cutting her stomach with a knife (you just hear her scream). The girl is just a creepy stalker. As for sex, the "stalker girl", as I call her, kisses another woman, and later goes home with her (nothing is shown). The stalker girl decides to take a phone call from her roommate's ex-boyfriend, who she later has phone sex with. You see her face as she masturbates. The screen switches back and forth from her to her roommate, who is having sex with her boyfriend. In another scene, the girl crawls in bed with a young man (the same man she had phone sex with). She has lingerie on (you see her bra). She later pulls out a knife she has hidden in the back of her bra, and stabs the man twice (you only see his face). The movie was just okay.
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For Teens
The shower thing was a little gross and swearing and drinking etc.
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Good teen thriller/horror
This may contain some minor spoilers. This movie is actually really good. I liked it alot, although I always love any horror movies, especially when they are somewhat realistic (no aliens,demons,etc). This movie had some horror movie cliches, but the characters weren't overly stupid. CommonSense Media forgot a couple things in the violence section. A girl pierces her own ear with an earring. All that is shown is her pushing it in and then a close up of it coming out the back and a drop of blood on her finger. Also, a girl rips another girls belly ring out, it isn't really shown, you see her grab hold of the earring and then hear a ripping sound and the girl screams. A man is also stabbed, although all that is shown is the mans face and the girl who is stabbing him (no close ups). There is more creepy/disturbing stuff than bloody violence. There is language, but it isn't bad. Basic PG13 language, but i've seen worse in other PG13 movies. There is talk of sex (a girl seduces a teacher and he kisses her, the same teacher kisses a girl unwillingly, it is implied that a girl has sex but all that is shown is her face is quick shots in a sequence, a girl/girl kiss, and some mild talk) There really isn't anything that bad sex wise. Nothing anyone 13 or over will be shocked by. I really liked this movie!! The theater was filled with other teens. Don't expect Saw-like blood or gore, but know that there are a few disturbing scenes. I highly recommend this movie for anyone mature enough!
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What to watch out for
*
Messages:
Lots of menace and animosity surrounding the message that not everything is as it appears and that you should trust your instincts when you feel something (or someone) is off.
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Role models:
One female character who at first appears timid finally stands up for herself. But other than that, the other characters are either superficial or heinous.
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Violence:
A girl bashes another girl’s head in the shower; she also puts a cat in the dryer (nothing more than that is shown, though it’s understood that she'll turn on the machine and kill the cat) and beats up and ties up another woman and then attempts to suffocate her with a plastic bag. A man hits a woman in self-defense. A woman tries to shove another woman out a window; she also stabs herself with a box cutter after she bruises her face with her own fist. A gun is drawn.
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Sex:
A man and woman have phone sex (viewers hear only the beginnings of the conversation). Close-ups of the faces of women climaxing. A man and a woman sleep together (no nudity). Two women kiss.
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Language:
“S--t” (and other derivations), “a--hole,” "p---y," “bi-ch,” "a-s," “wh-re,” "godd--n," and “h--l.”
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Consumerism:
References to fashion designers like Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as Vogue magazine. A Sony Vaio laptop is used, with logo visible.
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Underage drinking at a frat party (primarily beer and spiked punch). A woman flashes a roomful of people while drunk. A vial of meds prescribed for schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder is found.
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Perfect amount of scary:)
I am 13, and I watched this movie with my friend. It was very very good. It was the perfect amount of scary. There are parts of the movie where it seems like it is going to be scary, and then it isn't, which makes it even more suspenseful. I think that if you are a kid who enjoys being scared, but not completely freaked out like me, this movie is right up your alley:))
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Yay!
I loved it! Of course, don't send your 7 year old to see it, but I thought it was great for 12 and up. And really, if you don't think it is, you might want to ease up. Coddling your kids will make their life miserable.
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One of the worst movies i've ever seen
This is probaly the most lazy horror film i have ever seen. Not scary and just plain boring! Nothing even happens for the first 30 minuites besides lame conversations between the girl and her roommate. The script itself was also horrible. There wasn't even a twist at the end of the movie which i thought they would atleast try and do, but they were too lazy to even try and do that! The killings in the film (which there are only 2 of) are incredibly lame and we don't even get to see much of them. The violence in the film really isn't all that bad and the worst we see is some blood and a person getting stabbed. There is also some sexual jokes and content in the movie neither which are that bad though and some teen drinking in one scene. This could easily already be the Worst Film Of 2011. The only reason anyone should watch this movie is to see how unbelievably bad it is.
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Worst movie ever
I think this is quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. I found it boring, and completely stupid. I have no clue how this movie could even be called scary as nothing scary actually happened. There were a few innapropriate scenes. Other than that it was just plain boring.
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Good but Gross
Kids under like twleve because it is a little too scary. I am 12 and it freaked me out. Some sexually stuff but nothing too bad. Lots of blood and knifes,guns,tha type of thing. Also Rebeckah pulls out Traci's bellybutton ring which is pretty gross.Over all it is a perfect thriller and perfect for a person who loves scary movies!!
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| Studio: | Sony Pictures |
| Director: | Christian Christiansen |
| Cast: | Cam Gigandet, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 93 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 4, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | May 17, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and menace, sexual content, some language and teen partying |
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