Parents' Guide to Fallen

Movie R 1998 124 minutes
Fallen movie poster: Denzel Washington's face is bathed in red light, with a dark angelic figure appearing above him

Common Sense Media Review

Kat Halstead By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Violence and language in stylish if far-fetched thriller.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Fallen Trailer
  • Fallen: Denzel Washington walks through the empty streets of Philadelphia at night
  • Fallen: John Goodman and Denzel Washington sit together at a desk in a police station
  • Fallen: Denzel Washington and Embeth Davidtz look over their shoulders in concern as they sit in a candlelit church pew

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What's the Story?

In FALLEN, police detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington) and his partner, Jonesy (John Goodman), investigate a string of murders that seem to be linked to a recently executed killer. As Hobbes digs deeper, he crosses paths with theology professor Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), who opens his eyes to a world of demonic influences that might be at play.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Creative camerawork, clever use of voice-over, and a decent amount of twists and turns keep this otherwise conventional crime thriller from getting lost in the pack. From the director of Primal Fear (Gregory Hoblit), Fallen is a police procedural that knows its genre well, but adds some additional creepiness into the mix. Washington is perfectly cast as the decorated homicide cop who's tough on criminals but tender in his personal life. His saintliness is pushed to the limits a little at times, but he makes for a hero that's easy to root for. The fantasy/occult element is undeniably far-fetched, but the techniques used for the demonic aspects really stand out, and the POV camerawork and horror-like scenes where a demon appears to pass between people in the street are particularly effective. There's certainly a silliness to it, but there's also heart and legitimate scares that make this a compelling watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Fallen. Did it seem realistic, or over-the-top? 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?

  • There's lots of strong language in the movie. What did it contribute to the story? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this? If so, why?

  • John Hobbes showed integrity and courage in the movie. How did these affect his actions and the plot? Why are they important character strengths in real life?

  • How did the film combine the real world with supernatural elements? How successful did you think it was in doing this? How did it compare to other movies that mix the two?

  • The central supernatural figure isn't directly shown. How did the film use different techniques to portray its presence? Which were the most impactful, and why?

Movie Details

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Fallen movie poster: Denzel Washington's face is bathed in red light, with a dark angelic figure appearing above him

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