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Sleuth (2007)

(2007, Rated R, Thriller, Starring Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine, Jude Law)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Intense cat-and-mouse thriller is for adults only.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The never-seen Maggie cuckolds Andrew and persuades Milo to see her husband. Cruelty rules the day, and both Andrew and Milo aim to humiliate the other. They do so by playing mental games, with the battles quickly turning violent.

  • Violence:

    Lots, though nothing gory. The main characters beat each other up quite brutally (and sometimes in close-up) and later brandish knives and guns (shots are fired). In one scene, Milo nearly strangles Andrew with a necklace. In many others, they threaten to kill each other. The ending is stunning in its cruelty.

  • Sex:

    No sex shown, but the acrimony between the two main characters stems from Andrew's wife leaving him for Milo. Later, sexual tension surfaces between the two men.

  • Language:

    Includes uses of "bulls--t," "prick" and "f--k."

  • Consumerism:

    Heavy emphasis on high-tech gadgets (though labels aren't easily identifiable). The remote control for them looks like an iPod Nano.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink whiskey and other hard liquor; in one painfully humiliating scene, Milo guzzles alcohol straight from the bottle.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sleuth (2007)

Parents need to know that this sleek, adult-oriented thriller tackles mature themes -- infidelity, violence, murder -- from the get-go. Swear words (including "f--k") and other inflammatory language are hurled like weapons; later, actual weapons (including guns and knives) are brandished. It's clear from the beginning that main characters Milo and Andrew aim to annihilate each other. Even older teens may find the film's brutality uncomfortable: This is no cartoonishly violent video game, but an ugly, down and dirty obliteration.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about infidelity. Can it truly drive people to extremes like the ones shown in this movie, or is that an exaggeration on Hollywood's part? Why is the media so fascinated by love gone awry? Why do you think the filmmakers choose not to show Maggie? Should they have? If you've seen the 1970s original, you can compare and contrast the two. How are they similar and different? Which do you like better? Why?
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