Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense thriller has peril, violence, and strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
ElemenTory
What's the Story?
ELEMENTORY tells the story of how two sets of parents react when their children disappear from the same neighborhood within a few days of each other. Frustrated by the police's lack of progress and the lack of support from the community, the Reddicks (Shaun Paul Costello, Juliette Valdez) and the Adamses (Kenisha Pinckney, Tyron Nathaniel Reeves) take matters into their own hands by taking over their kids' elementary school by force, holding everyone hostage inside until their kids are found.
Is It Any Good?
So much diverse representation on screen is refreshing to see, but this movie unfortunately falls short as a truly compelling thriller. The pace of ElemenTory is slowed down by a lot of long, slow tracking shots of background activity that interfere with building up real tension. The characters aren't very well developed, either. Viewers can feel for their plight, but aren't given chances to really know and understand who they are. Strong language, long running time, and a plot that may scare younger viewers make it best for teens and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how ElemenTory treats violence as a means to an end. Do you think the Reddicks and the Adamses were right to do what they did to get their kids back? What else could they have done?
Thrillers are always a popular type of movie. What do we love about them? What are some of your favorites?
Why is diversity important in movies and other media? What do we learn about seeing ourselves represented on screen, or seeing people who are different from us?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 13, 2024
- Cast : Shaun Paul Costello , Juliette Valdez , Kenisha Pinckney , Tyrone Nathaniel Reeves
- Director : Terrence Arlyn
- Studio : Vision Films
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 14, 2024
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
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