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Parents' Guide to

Deadfall

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Violent Thanksgiving-set thriller isn't family friendly.

Movie R 2012 95 minutes
Deadfall Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
December 26, 2012
age 15+

Not my cup of tea...

I didn't enjoy this film very much at all, which was a letdown because I was really looking forward to it as I love thrillers, just not this type. It starts off promising but gets dull pretty fast, not enough action. I couldn't seem to get into it. It's fairly violent with quite a bit of sexual content (two sex scenes - one with brief nudity), and the language is somewhat strong with common uses of the "f" word, sh*t, b*tch, d@mn, hell...etc. There is drinking throughout. Absolutely not recommended for kids under 16!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Brother-and-sister team Addison (Eric Bana) and Liza (Olivia Wilde) are on the run from a successful casino heist, driving through a snowstorm. When their car crashes and Addison murders a highway patrolman, they're forced to make a run for it through the freezing woods. Liza meets an ex-boxer, Jay (Charlie Hunnam), who's just served a prison sentence for killing a man in the ring, and tries to get herself invited home for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Addison gets into further trouble, which results in further violence. With a scrappy young cop (Kate Mara) on their trail, what deadly fate awaits when this motley crew finally assembles for dinner at the home of Jay's parents (Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson)?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

It's somewhat of a surprise that DEADFALL is such a good, strong, compact pulp thriller. Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky won an Oscar for his overrated WWII movie The Counterfeiters and was responsible for another, very bad one, All the Queen's Men. But Ruzowitzky's filmmaking is much clearer and more confident in this terrain, using the snow and cold for maximum effect, both in separating characters and bringing them closer together.

The ensemble cast is well balanced, and the complex, nuanced relationships between families build many fascinating layers. In fact, certain plot threads -- such as Jay's accidental murder victim -- are all but dropped in favor of further character development, which is actually refreshing. Addison's extreme brutality makes the mix a bit too top heavy at times, but his early moments with Liza also go a long way in establishing his place. It's this excellent character balance that makes Deadfall so compelling.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Deadfall's violence. How does its impact compare to what you've seen in other action/thriller movies? Does it seem over-the-top?

  • What are the dynamics like in the various families shown in this story? Are any of them problem-free? Do any of them have similar problems?

  • What is the brother-sister relationship like between the main characters? What are its strengths and weaknesses? How well do they communicate?

  • How does the movie portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

Movie Details

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