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Parents' Guide to

American Carnage

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Satirical horror about racism falls flat; gore, language.

Movie R 2022 101 minutes
American Carnage Movie: Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In AMERICAN CARNAGE, newly elected governor Harper Finn (Brett Cullen) orders that all Latino citizens in his state be arrested. This includes JP (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), who works at Lady Liberty's Burgers, and his sister, Lily (Yumarie Morales), who was just accepted into college. They're separated and thrown into detention centers. JP is told that he can lighten his sentence by joining a program that involves volunteering to help out in an elder-care facility. He arrives there -- along with fellow incarcerated people Camila (Jenna Ortega), Chris (Jorge Diaz), Micah (Bella Ortiz), and "Big Mac" (Allen Maldonado) -- and facility head Eddie Davis (Eric Dane) informs them of the strict rules, including no escape attempts. It's not long before strange things start happening, with the patients acting panicky and one man turning into a zombie-like creature. Can JP and his friends figure out what's happening before it's too late?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3 ):

This promising satire/comedy-horror movie winds up spreading itself a bit too thin, never fully committing to any of its components. Even its skewering of racism feels blunted. Beginning with an incendiary opening credits montage, American Carnage boldly sets itself up from the start. The montage runs through images of Latino heroes, Latino stereotypes, and politicians and media outlets naming Latino people as enemies, being told to "go back to where you came from." And as the movie gets fully underway, JP uses his quick wit to shame two privileged, White racists at the drive-thru window. But not long after that, things start to soften up, sliding into goofy -- but far from hilarious -- comedy.

JP and his four new buddies might have been lifted from any raucous high school comedy. They seem more concerned with causing trouble than solving problems. The movie's horror elements come in late and only sporadically. They feel tentative, as if unsure whether to fall on the side of funny or scary. The final reveal (foreshadowed by an out-of-place movie poster in JP's room) is handled in a routinely surface way. It brings back a little of the racism commentary, showing how the villains can't even see Latino people as human beings, but it still feels cheapened by one-note dialogue and silly visual effects. Ultimately, American Carnage fails to live up to its promise: It's too bland to be incendiary and too soft for true carnage.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about American Carnage's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How does the movie depict racism? How do politics and the media affect racism? How is capitalism related to racism?

  • How are drinking and drug use depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?

  • Does the movie offer positive diverse representation?

  • Is the movie scary, or is it just gory? What's the difference? How can a horror movie be funny?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: July 15, 2022
  • On DVD or streaming: August 30, 2022
  • Cast: Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , Jenna Ortega , Allen Maldonado
  • Director: Diego Hallivis
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors, Female actors, Latino actors, Multiracial actors
  • Studio: Saban Films
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 101 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: some disturbing violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, nudity and drug use
  • Last updated: June 13, 2023

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