Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Muddled horror tale mixes scares, troubling themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
6 Souls
What's the Story?
Forensic psychiatrist Cara Harding (Julianne Moore) gets a call from her psychiatrist father (Jeffrey DeMunn) asking her to take a look at one of his patients, a man with a multiple personality disorder (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). After spending some time with the man -- who goes by several names -- she starts to realize that some of his personalities are real-life murder victims ... and that the man knows a little too much about them. Could he have witnessed a murder as a child, or is something far more sinister going on? Meanwhile, several people in Cara's life, including her daughter (Brooklynn Proulx), seem to have developed terrible coughs and strange sores on their backs. Can she solve the mystery before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
If not for the presence of the extraordinary Moore, this film wouldn't be worthy of any attention at all. Swedish filmmakers Bjorn Stein and Mans Marlind, who made the interesting Storm in their home country, came to Hollywood to make 6 SOULS (originally called Shelter). The confusing, lackluster result languished so long on the shelf that their next movie, the equally lackluster Underworld: Awakening opened in theaters first. 6 Souls is a perfect example of too little, too late.
6 Souls does start out with an interesting idea: the man with a multiple personality disorder consisting of murder victims. But the payoff for this is so muddled and sluggish that it just lands with an uninspiring thud. The filmmakers can't seem to figure out how and when to dole out information to keep the mystery afloat, and even the characters get lost in the indecision. It's a rare flop for Moore; hopefully it won't have lasting impact.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about 6 Souls' violence. Is it necessary to the story that the young girl be put in peril? Could the same story have been told another way?
How scary is the movie? What makes it a horror movie, as opposed to a thriller?
Does the movie encourage faith, spirituality, or religion? Why or why not?
Is Cara a role model? Do you think she's intended to be?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 5, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : July 2, 2013
- Cast : Frances Conroy , Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Julianne Moore
- Directors : Bjorn Stein , Mans Marlind
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Radius TWC , Weinstein Co.
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent content, disturbing images and terror
- Last updated : July 2, 2022
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