Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Film of creepy 1980s pulp novel has evil adults, incest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Flowers in the Attic
What's the Story?
As FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC opens, the Dollanganger clan has it all. Gorgeous, successful couple Christopher (Chad Willett) and Corinne (Heather Graham) have four beautiful children: teenage Chris (Mason Dye) and Cathy (Kiernan Shipka), plus 5-year-old twins Cory (Maxwell Kovach) and Carrie (Ava Telek). But one night, Christopher is killed in a terrible car accident, and, without job skills and unable to support her family, Corinne brings them to the home of her cruel parents. Years ago, they disowned her when she married Christopher—a match with a dark secret. Now Corinne plans to keep her children hidden in an attic until she can bring her father around and convince him to let her inherit his millions. Corinne's terrifying mother (Ellen Burstyn) is in on the scheme, and every day brings the children food as Corinne comes to visit less and less, leaving the lonely Chris and Cathy with seemingly no choice but to turn to each other for intimacy and love.
Is It Any Good?
Viewers who read the original 1979 book in a breathless rush at camp or hidden under a bedsheet might want to know one thing about this eerie adaptation: Does Flowers in the Attic go there? Author V C. Andrews' original has full-on brother-sister incest, kinda-sorta rape, a murderous mom, and more absolutely purple plot points. The 1987 film preferred to keep it tame, but, for better or for worse, you'll find things much truer to the book in director Deborah Chow's version. Most of the incest action happens off-screen, but there are a couple of decidedly non-filial bro-sis kisses, then cuts to Cathy and Chris cuddling in bed and Chris declaring his unending love for her, in a scene that would be kinda sweet if it weren't so creepy.
This Flowers of the Attic also nails the grandmother's menace, with a scene-chewing performance by Burstyn that could give even adults nightmares. Graham as Corinne and the young actors who play Cory and Carrie aren't as good, but they have less to do in the movie, anyway. Shipka, best known as the nuanced daughter Sally Draper from Mad Men, is a sympathetic character who manages to ground some of the more melodramatic plot points and makes viewers care about Cathy, at least in the sense that we want to see what will happen next. Not to worry, book-version fans: All the scenes you remember and love are here, and nicely done.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes the story of Flowers in the Attic compelling. Does it seem like something that could really happen?
If you've read the original novel or seen the 1987 film adaptation, how does this version compare? Did you prefer one over the other? Why?
Who is the main character in Flowers in the Attic? How can you tell? Is this character heroic or an anti-hero? Why?
What was the point of including incest as a central theme? How did the romantic family relationships make you feel? Did the storytellers accomplish their goal?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 15, 2014
- Cast : Ellen Burstyn , Heather Graham , Kiernan Shipka
- Director : Deborah Chow
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : A&E Home Video
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Book Characters
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : June 21, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate