Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inventive, minimalistic thriller has some bloody twists.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cop Car
What's the Story?
Two Midwestern boys, Travis (James Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Hays Wellford), run away from home, practicing curse words and poking at snake holes. They come across a seemingly abandoned cop car and, after playing around, decide to take it. That's bad news for crooked Sheriff Kretzer (Kevin Bacon), who's just returned from dumping a body in the woods. As the boys have fun on their joy ride, the sheriff tries to get his car back, desperately stooping to trickery and robbery to do it. Because he's definitely got something to hide ... and the arrival of a good Samaritan (Camryn Manheim) only complicates matters.
Is It Any Good?
Directed and co-written by Jon Watts, this deceptively simple, low-budget thriller delivers its extremely satisfying suspense through minimal characters, wide-open spaces, and poker-faced patience. The minimalistic COP CAR gleefully revels in details, like Kretzer spending long minutes breaking into a car with his shoelace, or the kids nail-bitingly testing out a bullet-proof vest.
Watts creates additional suspense by crossing shots of wide, empty country landscapes dotted with landmarks (a barbed-wire fence, a snake-hole, etc.) with more intimate close-ups; Bacon is especially good here, feverish and furious in his pointy mustache and dark glasses. The spare use of music, and, toward the end, an incredible use of light (in the dark, the kids turn on the siren but can't find the headlights), make this an inventive joy ride well worth seeing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cop Car's violence. Is it used to shock or to generate suspense? How does it achieve these things? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How does it feel seeing two boys involved in this story? Do they feel like they're in danger? What do they learn from their "adventure"?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? What's their effect -- are their consequences for substance use? Are they glamorized, or do they serve some other purpose?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 7, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : September 29, 2015
- Cast : Kevin Bacon , James Freedson-Jackson , Hays Wellford
- Director : Jon Watts
- Studio : Focus World
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, violence and brief drug use
- Last updated : July 15, 2022
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