Parents' Guide to

Cordelia

By Kat Halstead, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

British thriller has language, violence, themes of trauma.

Movie NR 2022 91 minutes
Cordelia movie poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In CORDELIA, a young woman spends the weekend alone in her dark, dingy London flat. As past traumas resurface and she spirals into paranoia, Cordelia (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) meets her charming neighbor Frank (Johnny Flynn) and strikes up a relationship. But what initially seems like a welcome escape soon starts to feel more like a trap, leading to the question; who can we really trust?

Is It Any Good?

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

A fractured thriller that has a tightly wound atmosphere, but a slightly looser grip on its plot, this is a movie of two parts that only half succeeds. Low-lit interiors, flickering lights, ominous shadows … the tension in Cordelia is alive in the sets as much as in the actors themselves. Both Campbell-Hughes and Flynn play their characters, Cordelia and Frank, with a veil of secrecy and mystery that adds to the nervy atmosphere. Bleeding together dream and reality, the film toys with perceived reality, as the pair play a game of cat and mouse, their roles never quite clearly defined.

Unfortunately the plot only intrigues up until the final half hour. Then it seems to detach and float into a dreamlike state of bypassing the whys and hows in favor of the unsettling and slightly bizarre. Instead of wrapping up or leaving it open, the ending almost bleeds away, leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction that doesn't quite live up to the movie's early promise.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the portrayal of trauma and related mental health issues in Cordelia. Did it handle these themes sensitively? Why is that important?

  • Discuss the violence in the film. How did it affect you? How much was actually shown? How realistic did it seem? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • There is an aspect of the unreliable narrator in the movie. How did it affect your experience as a viewer? Can you think of other films that use a similar device?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate