Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Suspenseful, intense Mexican drama has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Down the Rabbit Hole
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Ten-year-old Tochtli (Miguel Valverde) lives in an opulent castle with his father, Yolcaut (Manuel García-Rulfo), and his father's servants and cronies in DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. He has a tutor to school him, caged wild animals to play with, and all the toys a kid could want. But he's also alone, without friends, and he's starting to notice some strange and potentially scary things happening in his father's world.
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat and disturbing yet enthralling drama constructs an imagined world that displays a continued solidification of the distinctive personal voice and style of Mexican director Manolo Caro. The premise of Down the Rabbit Hole is the life of a 10-year-old boy raised entirely within the confines of his drug-lord father's sprawling compound. But none of that is spelled out for us. Rather, Caro reveals the realities of this world piece by piece, from a spoiled child with an oddly shaved head and no friends his own age, to his father's seething intimidation of a dinner guest, to symbolic wild animals locked up in cages in the yard, to a basement full of weapons.
We are along for the ride, and the film -- co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu's regular collaborator Nicolás Giacobone, based on a novel by Juan Pablo Villalobos -- masterfully holds back key pieces of information to both arouse our curiosity and increase the tension. It's clear something is off from the very opening scene, when the boy sits alone in a long hall of taxidermized animals and a tall wall of hats. The composition and setting feel reminiscent of Wes Anderson, but the story goes off in much a darker and more sinister direction. It's as if we are becoming aware of the evils that lurk, and losing our innocence alongside Tochtli. Besides the unique look of the film, the tale also works thanks to exceptional performances by the underappreciated García-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer) and child actor Miguel Valverde.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the look of Down the Rabbit Hole. Does it remind you of any other films you've seen? What feelings does the setting evoke in you?
How does the film use music to build suspense?
One of the main characters is known to oversee a drug cartel. What does that involve? Where could you find more information?
A character suggests that despite "centuries of culture," the world still sees Mexicans in stereotypes. Could this film help change that? Why or why not?
The film is structured into acts based on imaginary characters Tochtli is playing. How do these also work to reveal what's happening in his life? Do you think his stomach troubles also suggest something is not right in his world?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 3, 2024
- Cast : Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Miguel Valverde , Debi Mazar
- Director : Manolo Caro
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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