Parents' Guide to

Complete Unknown

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Thoughtful, mature drama about how adults form identity.

Movie R 2016 90 minutes
Complete Unknown Poster Image

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

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What's the Story?

In COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Tom (Michael Shannon) has an unexpected guest at his birthday party. His colleague's mysterious new friend, Alice (Rachel Weisz), also turns out to be Jenny, a former girlfriend of Tom's who disappeared without a trace 15 years earlier. Over the course of a long night, Alice/Jenny explains where she's been and why she left, prompting Tom to question some of his own choices -- less dramatic to be sure, but perhaps with just as much impact.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Moody, melancholy, fascinating, and ultimately frustrating, this drama will resonate with viewers who recognize the appeal of escape and starting over, which is the central theme of the plot. But sadly, Complete Unknown doesn't quite fulfill its promise. It's weighed down by an overly complicated trajectory -- though, when the film is finally distilled to its essence in the second half, it rights itself once more. Ultimately, the clunky route arrives at a somewhat satisfying destination. But it almost hardly matters: Watching Weisz and Shannon share the screen is worth the price of admission.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Alice. Who is she, really? Why do you think she cycles through so many different identities? What is Complete Unknown saying about what "identity" means?

  • Can you think of other movies that address similar themes? How do they compare to this one?

  • How do you think you'd react if someone you hadn't seen in 15 years suddenly showed up and said they were someone else?

Movie Details

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