Trainspotting (R, 1995)
common sense media says
Graphic look into heroin addiction. Not for kids.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is, at its core, the story of a group of friends held together largely by their shared addiction to heroin. Much time is spent simply on presenting sounds and images meant to simulate either the euphoria of heroin highs or the wretchedness of heroin withdrawal. Violence is also present in their behavior of the friends, including fistfights and fights with blunt instruments and broken glass, which often have no motivation and can get quite bloody. The dialogue is almost wall-to-wall obscenities, although the Scottish tongue is often hard for Americans to understand. A baby dies due to the neglect of his heroin-addicted mother. Sex is discussed and displayed openly.
Violence:
Fistfights and fights with blunt instruments and broken glass, which often have no motivation and can get quite bloody.
Sex:
Strong sexual content, including a partial rape scene.
Language:
Very strong.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
The film is based on heroin use.
More on Trainspotting
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Most useful reviews by all members
Redser93
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
Trainspotting A Harsh Reality Of What Life Can Become!
I believe that Trainspotting is an absolutely amazing film that show's the true to life consequences of part taking in hard drug abuse. Yes the film is based on heroin user's but the film portrays Renton's struggle to break away from the addiction and show's us how hard it is, how he loses his family, how he has to betray his friends all in the goal of becoming clean. Showing this film teenagers is essential as they would be to afraid to even part take in drugs as it shows how much it can corrupt your life. This will torture teenagers that think drugs are cool or a joke as this is a film from the eye's of a junkie not an examination of a junkie
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jujubee33
parent of 16 and 16 year old
parent of 16 and 16 year old
Herion Turn-Off
I think it gives teenagers great insight into how bad herion withdrawl is, and is in fact relaying the message that herion is bad. I think it would be good for teenagers to see this movie.
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jmariee
adult
adult
PARENTS BEWARE!!!
My daughter talked me into watching this movie when she was about 17, she LOVED it. Little did I know that it was because she thought shooting heroin was "cool."
This movie is very disturbing and a very accurate account of how heroin addicts live, think, etc. I didn't think it was "cool," but scenes from it flashed back in my mind as my daughter started struggling with her own heroin addiction... Parents BEWARE!!!
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florianbell
teen, 13 years old
teen, 13 years old
Awesome!
I watched this movie at that age. It is an extremely educational movie which teaches kids about heroin and how bad it is. This movie will definitely make kids not want to try heroin. The sexual content is explicit but in the 21st century children are exposed to sex like this a lot in movies, television shows and believe it or not a lot of kids will at that age have looked at adult content. Kids are exposed to swearing at school at the age of about 10 and up kids swear using all sorts of profanities almost all the time when not around adults. The soundtrack is great.
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Eduardo Peixoto
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Catalyst to a lot of interesting debates
Very good and thought-inducing portrayal of the drug world, and not a bit as extreme as popular opinion tends to call. A powerful catalyst to lots of interesting debates, and positive for a mind-forming teenager.
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supertay
adult
adult
Hellza Good
I throughly enjoyed this movie the first time I watched it; I perceived it as a black comedy myself. Although it was about drug use, I think it is okay for kids my age to watch because it puts drug use into perspective, but not in a drill-into-your-head way. Also it is a cult favorite, so many references might be made to it in other productions, and I believe that it is important to understand them.
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Cynicle
parent
parent
Reality Check
I disagree with the icons above and would say that this movie, when veiwed in the appropriate company, is very educational.
Out of all the hollywood movies I have seen, Trainspotting depicts the most realistic and eye-opening portrail of not only drug use but the life that comes with it. If this movie doesn't discorage someone from heroin or other drug use it probably will at least educate them to foresee the warning signs of when things are going to get really bad so they can get professional help.
To all those saying the movie is not educational, trust me those D.A.R.E. Campaigns and other similar programs get totally ignored by the people that are most at risk from a life of drug abuse. Go to a harm reduction forum if you don't believe me.
Maybe that's why my country doesn't have significant drug related problems that America is facing half due to it's short sighted no-tolerance policies.
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OTCAlex
adult
adult
ok to tell you the truth i dont know anything about this movie BUT i saw it had a red on sex violence and more! yay god i love today rants rants and more rants! ANYWAY ok you see sex no problem watch it before your kids then watch it with them and tell them when to turn around and when not to AND there is an age when they get curiose and when they do maybe once "forget" about them JUST ONCE turn around and act suprised like oh.... i forgot you were there.... it doesnt have to be suprised..but thats about all i got for ranting...today anyway...until next time! see yall tomorrow *laughs out loud*
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evolinag
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Masterpiece, but full of drugs!
The movie is excellent. I recommend it to anyone who is old enough to handle it.
There is a detailed scene where we see three couples (?) having sex at the same time (i'm not a person who says sex is a big deal, but i want you to know before showing this to your child).
There is an INCREDIBLY big amount of drugs in the movie and it is extremely detailed. We see needles with H being injected, drug dealing, hallucinations, one "horror trip" (it is not too frightening and also somehow comical, but we see Mark is very scared and in panic).
The movie has a strong sarcastic and balck comedy undertone, in a way we know from the movies "Pulp Fiction" and "Clerks".
Also there is some strong language.
I think the strong drug use, and only the drug use is the reason i give this movie a 15 rating (sex and language are only a reason for a 12 rating in my rating system). Really, the drugs are lengthy, and you see all of the things relate dsuch as hallucinations, incontinence (gross!) and the addiction.
However, it is depicted neutral. We see some disadvantages, but also it is mentioned to be a great feeling.
But it is not glorifying, either.
Know your child about the drugs.
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