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Fear Itself

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Eric Roberts, Brandon Routh, Elisabeth Moss, Where to watch: NBC)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Intense horror show definitely too much for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Innocent people are often placed in horrible situations and slaughtered one by one by mysterious killers -- and it often seems like the victims' only crime is to stumble into the wrong place at the wrong time. Why do these sadistic murderers do what they do? It's not usually explained until the end, and even then there's no real justification for such brutality.

  • Violence:

    Plenty of violence, lots of gore, and tons of blood. The series serves up lots of chills and is heavy on brutal, often sadistic violence. Many of the episodes are directed by some of Hollywood's top horror filmmakers, and though they have to tone down the action for TV, it's still pretty extreme.

  • Sex:

    No nudity or onscreen sex, though there's some flirting and suggestive conversations.

  • Language:

    Despite the intense situations, there's surprisingly little foul language.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fear Itself

Parents need to know that this horror anthology series delivers a big dose of gore. Many of the episodes are directed by well-known horror filmmakers, who translate to TV the violence and sadism that's so prevalent in the genre. The explicit carnage is toned down for the small screen, but only a bit, and many scenes seem to push the envelope of network standards. It's definitely too intense for kids -- or anyone else who doesn't have a taste for the extreme violence that's common in modern horror movies.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about horror films. How has the genre changed over the years? Films like Dracula and The Werewolf, which terrified audiences decades ago, seem quaint and amusing to today's audiences, while the graphic, sadistic violence that's common now would have been unthinkable in the past. Do you think this evolution was inevitable? Have today's filmmakers gone too far? If not, where can they go next? How much do you think the directors who worked on this series changed their style and content for TV? Why are TV standards different than movies?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    J-dog21
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Very fun show!!!

    Kinda violent but fun to watch with friends

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Miley1cyrus3
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Violence with no story

    i watched 1 episode of this and hated it. it was gore with no story to it and was boring. i love scary stuff and gore but hated this show. i would say if you like gore 13-14+. one example is something that would happen in a 'saw' movie, sewing someones lips together. lots of blood nd violence with little story.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Adult Reviewer
    Chris LP
    Lives in Louisiana
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    very intense

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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