Chariot

Movie review by Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media
Chariot Movie Poster

Common Sense says

age 15+

Smoking, drug use, language in offbeat sci-fi romance.

R 2022 94 minutes
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Chariot is an eerie, odd existential mystery. Romantics who like offbeat films may spark to the film's message about soulmates, but since it's made in the vein of a David Lynch film, you can also expect lots of "cult film" elements. Characters like conjoined twins and a woman with dissociative identity disorder are treated with acceptance, but they also seem to be present to create a weird/off-balance world, which ultimately makes them more offensive than inclusive. The main character's love interest (Rosa Salazar) is also a classic example of the "manic pixie dream girl" cliche. Characters are seen in bed together, with the implication that they had sex. Lead characters drink and smoke pot and cigarettes and take acid with a positive outcome. There's strong language throughout, including swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), rude sexual terminology ("c--t," "c--k"), a homophobic slur, and gestures. A gun is used as a threat and there's self-assault and some creepy elements and images.

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What's the Story?

In CHARIOT, Harrison Hardy (Thomas Mann) moves to the city to seek therapy for his sleep disorder from noted somnologist Dr. Karn (John Malkovich). Moving into the cheapest furnished apartment in the city, Harrison is pleased to be welcomed by the residents of The Lafayette, while also baffled by their odd behavior.

Is It Any Good?

Writer-director Adam Sigal falls short of his attempt to create a David Lynch-ian creepy mystery: Yep, it's bizarre, but the ending is lackluster and disappointing. Chariot starts out strong, as a promising puzzler, as if it could be Inception meets The Shining. Viewers will be trying to figure out what's going on alongside Harrison: Why does he have the same innocuous recurring dream, and what's up with the strange residents of The Lafayette? The opening scene, which features a quote from Emily Dickinson, makes it clear that whatever is happening to poor, confused Harrison, death will be involved.

However, distributor Saban Films did Sigal a significant disservice by spoiling the movie's big reveal in the trailer and the synopsis they included in their marketing materials. In other words, if you've seen the trailer, you've seen the film. And that may be enough because it's not that good. On one hand, it suffers from poor production elements, like Malkovich's over-modulated audio. On another, it teases so many intriguing details where viewers await an explanation that never comes. Perhaps Saban had it right: The whole experience is better off dead.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Chariot glamorizes drugs, alcohol, and smoking? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

  • Talk about your beliefs about the afterlife/what happens after death. Why do you think filmmakers like to explore these ideas?

  • Why did you choose this film to watch? How did it live up to your expectations/the way it was marketed to you? How would you try to sell it to audiences?

  • Is Chariot diverse? Are the representations inclusive or problematic?

  • What's the meaning of Charlie's dream? Why is it hidden in something mundane?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love offbeat movies

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