Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mother seeks revenge in violent rape/murder thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Eye for an Eye
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
EYE FOR AN EYE follows grieving mother Karen McCann (Sally Field) as she plots revenge on her daughter's murderer, Robert Doob (Kiefer Sutherland).
Is It Any Good?
This bizarre and empty-headed revenge fantasy was a critical bomb and commercial flop on its release in 1996 and the following decades have not done it any favors. Eye for an Eye is powered by a relentlessly contrived plot. A one-dimensional, caricature of a rapist—played by Sutherland—snarls his way through the film, repeatedly getting away with the crimes he commits owing to an increasingly far-fetched series of procedural blunders and implausible police investigations. In one scene, he pours hot coffee on a dog for the sport of it, just in case anyone's still confused about who's supposed to be the bad guy here. Field plays Karen, the loving mother of one of Doob's victims, who is driven to extreme measures because society's institutions are failing her. But her revenge plot is so clumsy and obvious that it almost immediately attracts suspicion and seems highly unlikely to succeed. The finale plays out like a schlocky horror movie, again requiring the audience to suspend disbelief. The whole movie is a waste of a talented cast, which fails to say anything thoughtful or original about violent acts and their repercussions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Eye for an Eye. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Was it shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss Karen's motivations. Did you agree with her actions? Why, or why not? What are the differences between vengeance and justice?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 12, 1996
- On DVD or streaming : April 16, 2002
- Cast : Sally Field , Kiefer Sutherland , Ed Harris
- Director : John Schlesinger
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and disturbing violence which includes rape
- Last updated : March 18, 2025
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