Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bleak film about disturbed teen is difficult to watch.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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We Need to Talk About Kevin
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the film, while unsettling and bleak, offers a profound insight into familial dynamics and mental health, particularly how parental actions can influence a child's behavior. Many reviewers recommend it for mature teens, emphasizing the importance of understanding its deeper themes rather than viewing it simply as a story of a disturbed child; however, the graphic content and unsettling subject matter may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- emotional abuse
- mental health
- parental impact
- viewer discretion
- not for children
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on a novel by Lionel Shriver, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN explores what life is like for a mother, Eva Katchadourian (Tilda Swinton), whose son, Kevin (Ezra Miller), has just maimed and killed his classmates at a local high school. The world she lives in now is a shell, with co-workers, neighbors, and strangers vandalizing her home and hissing hateful words at her at unexpected moments. But it is Kevin who most preoccupies her. As he sits in jail, Eva sifts through his childhood and teenage years, trying to make sense of what has happened.
Is It Any Good?
There's no doubt that Tilda Swinton turns in a visceral, milestone performance in We Need to Talk About Kevin. As the mother of a teen who must live with her child's horrendous decision, she's nothing short of breathtaking. Viewers see her fall to pieces over the years as she struggles to understand his animosity toward the world and her own feelings toward him.
Still, the movie is too claustrophobic, rendering it hard to watch, amazing acting or no. Portent and despair envelop the film from the first few frames -- a teeming mass of revelers soaked in blood-red tomato sauce. The movie is steeped in premonition and dread, understandable considering the subject matter. But it's relentless -- the heartbeat that underscores certain scenes, the dreary lighting, the persistent red tint to it all. Enough.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie portrays Kevin. Why do you think he was the way he was? Was he disturbed from the start? Does that make it any easier to accept that he'd do the things he did?
Is there anything positive to be found in this movie in terms of messages or role models? If not, why do you think the filmmakers chose to tell this story?
What is the impact of violence in We Need to Talk About Kevin? Is it more or less disturbing than what you'd see in a horror movie? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 9, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : May 29, 2012
- Cast : Ezra Miller , John C. Reilly , Tilda Swinton
- Director : Lynne Ramsay
- Studio : Oscilloscope Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and intense violence
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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