Parents' Guide to

Doomsday

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Violent action flick paints a grim, bloody future.

Movie R 2008 105 minutes
Doomsday Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

callofduty5
callofduty5 Adult
October 13, 2010
age 16+

NOT FOR YOUNGER TEENS, older may like it

This movie packs unrealistic but very gory violence, characters are good and the intro was excellent but this aint a zombie film more like "its the end of the world" movie. But still a good choice for older teens little kids might not like the cannibalism scene or other nasty picks of the movie. but still its rather funny than disturbing

This title has:

Too much violence
Great messages
Great role models
Plague
Plague Parent
December 14, 2009
age 13+

Doomsday

Greaty movie for action lovers. Awesome, bloody violence and strong main characters that will do anything to survive this doomed world mankind has created.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like so many of its post-apocalyptic precursors, DOOMSDAY sets a reluctant hero against the world. In this case, she's DDS Major Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra), a tough chick with emotional baggage (she lost her mother) and bionic extras (a spy camera/recorder eyeball). Trained by chief Bill Nelson (Bob Hoskins), she's long used to adversity in a divided UK, where a wall partitions England and Scotland to quarantine a virus. In 2035, when the virus resurfaces, the prime minister's conniving assistant sends her to Glasgow to retrieve a man named Dr. Kane (Malcolm McDowell), who may have developed an antidote. Her mission: Resist the brutal tribal punks who now control the city, recover the doctor (or the antidote), and return to London.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (2):

Derivative by definition, the movie pits Eden against enemies and challenges that showcase her courage and intelligence (think the Alien films) and her lethal expertise (shades of Resident Evil). The predictable, video game-like plot doesn't allow much in the way of character development, though Eden does admire team member Sergeant Norton (Adrian Lester), who displays a singular moral sensibility, and so, must suffer dire consequences.

Like Neil Marshall's other films (Dog Soldiers and The Descent), Doomsday is full of gore and fierce battles for survival. It also alludes to social/political issues like AIDS and the Katrina catastrophe. Still, such broader dimensions tend to be overshadowed by the harrowing, bloody action. While Eden draws obvious inspiration from her tough-chick role models (Linda Hamilton, Kate Beckinsale, even Buffy), she's also a vaguely new kind of mad girl. Anticipating the direst end, Eden chooses the cannibal punks, declaring herself for them, in terms they appreciate. It's a grim resolution, even in this post-apocalypse.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the kinds of things that post-apocalyptic movies often have in common. How does Hollywood tend to signal a civilization in decline? What other movies does this one remind you of? What sets it apart? Is it significant that the main character is a woman? How does Eden see the world differently from her male adversaries? How does her traumatic past shape her attitude toward authority and morality?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: March 14, 2008
  • On DVD or streaming: July 28, 2008
  • Cast: Adrian Lester, Bob Hoskins, Rhona Mitra
  • Director: Neil Marshall
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors
  • Studio: Rogue Pictures
  • Genre: Horror
  • Run time: 105 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content/nudity.
  • Last updated: February 27, 2023

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