• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

• Is it any good?

  5.0

• Common Sense says

  Violent Oscar winner shatters myths of the Old West.

Why We Rated This for Ages 16–17

The good stuff

• Messages:

  An effort is made here to de-romanticize violence as it is usually shown in Western movies. Killing is seen to take a toll on the perpetrator as well as the victim. The message is that it's not easy to shoot and kill another living being "unless you have no conscience." There is also a solid effort to illustrate moral ambiguity: the sheriff, who believes in upholding justice and fairness, is also sadistic and evil when he loses his temper. On the other hand, the ferocious, violent gunslinger has a softer, moral side and fights to be a better person. The women are prostitutes, but are shown working together to fight for their safety and a semblance of dignity and respect.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  Graphic killings, beatings, knifings, and mayhem throughout. Opening sequence shows a prostitute being slashed in the face. Men are ambushed, shot at point-blank range, beaten ferociously, kicked, and whipped. Men and women are hit with fists, knocked to the ground. A man is shot multiple times while sitting in an outhouse. A dead man is shown hanging on a sign. A sheriff loses his temper and is seen as violently out of control on several occasions.
• Sex:

  Primary female roles in the film are prostitutes. The action is precipitated by an angry "client" graphically slashing one of these prostitutes during a sexual encounter. Several scenes show the women negotiating for and in the early or late stages of sexual activity with randy cowboys. These women are treated as "property" and have few rights as citizens. They live in fear and are greatly disrespected, but strive to find some dignity and worth. There is no nudity.
• Language:

  Harsh swearing and cursing throughout: many forms of "f--k," "ass," "piss," "hell," "bitch," "dick," "hump," "whore," "pecker," "for Christ's sake," "goddamn it," "Jesus," and more.
• Consumerism:

  Not an issue.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Numerous occasions in which men swig liquor directly from a bottle; drinking whiskey is seen as an integral part of the culture of the Old West. There is much discussion of drunkenness and the resulting immoral, often violent behavior.

What Parents Need to Know

About Unforgiven

Families Can Talk About