Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Female-led, extremely violent, and sweary crime thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Duchess
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DUCHESS, Scarlett (Charlotte Kirk) is pulled from her life of petty crime into the sparkling world of the illegal diamond trade when she meets handsome career criminal Rob (Philip Winchester). But beneath the surface lies a violent, murky underworld, where she'll have to play dirty to make her mark.
Is It Any Good?
A working-class woman from South London goes from stealing wallets in clubs to holding court with the criminal elite in this violent crime thriller that doesn't quite live up to its promise. In Duchess, director Neil Marshall (The Descent, Hellboy) wraps up a tale of female empowerment in an unevenly paced plot that too often falls back on clichéd dialogue and generic plot points. From the start, it's very much Scarlett's story, introduced by her performing a particularly violent act followed by a voice-over to pull viewers into her world. Though some parts of the dialogue are sharp, there's a try-hard nature to it that can start to feel awkward, and moments of vulnerability don't always feel earned. The use of music during fight scenes gives the movie a pulpy edge, and sequences often take on an appealing graphic novel-inspired aesthetic. But the playfulness it hints at sadly gets lost during the almost two-hour runtime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the bloody violence in Duchess. Did you think it felt over the top, or do you expect lots of gore in films like this? What did it add to the story? How did it compare to the violence of other crime movies? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How was gender portrayed in the movie? How did Scarlett's being a woman affect her journey within the criminal world? What did the movie say about the capabilities of women? Would you consider the film empowering? Why, or why not?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How were drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
How did the movie portray sex and relationships? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 9, 2024
- Cast : Charlotte Kirk , Sean Pertwee , Colm Meaney , Philip Winchester
- Director : Neil Marshall
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Saban Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violent content, pervasive language, some sexual content and brief drug use
- Last updated : August 12, 2024
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