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Parents' Guide to

Bait

By Danny Brogan, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

British drama looks at class issues; some adult themes.

Movie NR 2019 89 minutes
Bait Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Andy S.
Andy S. Parent of 14-year-old
August 25, 2023
age 16+

Hard to slog through

Interesting movie, very different style of storytelling than standard Hollywood fare. Frankly seemed rather strange. Not only B&W, but intentionally rough print. Our 14-year-old only made it through 20 minutes.
Richard-at-Aisling
Richard-at-Aisling Adult
January 28, 2020
age 18+

Cliches Galore

A self indulgent and ponderous film full of cliches and stereotypes. Read between the lines of the positive reviews.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BAIT takes place in an English fishing village, which is being taken over by rich tourists, much to the locals' annoyance. After being forced to sell the family home -- and with his brother using their father's boat to ferry tourists around the bay -- fisherman Martin's (Edward Rowe) world is falling apart. As Martin struggles to adapt to change, the divide between new and old and rich and poor threatens to bubble over.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This outstanding British sleeper hit looks at class and the consequences of gentrification on existing communities. Set in Cornwall, England, Bait shows how the locals, specifically Martin, struggle to come to terms with the arrival of rich tourists. Shot in black and white, with the sound dubbed in after filming, Bait looks like an old home movie. Yet, rather than hurt the film, this style reinforces a key message: the old versus the new. For example, in one scene, Martin and his nephew Neil (Isaac Woodvine) are fishing, which is intercut with a tourist working on her laptop.

Dialogue is minimal, and with its slow pace, Bait resembles a fuse slowly burning down to an explosive powder keg. Despite a relatively unknown cast, the performances feel authentic. Arguably, there's some stereotyping -- the locals are hardworking but quick-tempered, while the rich tourists are snobby and arrogant -- but there's a realness to Bait that means this doesn't distract. Bait may not provide any answers to what's increasingly happening to lower-income communities, but it certainly asks the right questions.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the issue of class in Bait. What's happening to the village? Why is Martin so upset about this? What are the pros and cons of gentrification?

  • How are the locals and tourists portrayed? Are they stereotyped? Why can stereotyping be negative? How can we battle stereotypes?

  • How could some of the issues raised in the movie be resolved? How do the locals and tourists talk to each other? Why is communication so important to society?

  • How does the movie portray teen drinking? What would the consequences be for that behavior in real life?

Movie Details

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