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Parents' Guide to

God's Country

By Monique Jones, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Violent slow-burn drama has explosive moments; language.

Movie R 2022 102 minutes
God's Country Movie Poster

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

GOD'S COUNTRY details the life of Sandra (Thandiwe Newton), a professor living in mountain country who simply wants two hunters (Joris Jarsky and Jefferson White) not to park on her land. The ensuing cat-and-mouse game leads Sandra down a dangerous path colored by grief and rage.

Is It Any Good?

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

This intense story is a slow-burn drama in every sense of the word. The main issue is whether viewers can stick with God's Country long enough for the story to finally kick in. But if you do, the film provides a payoff that, in a way, makes the wait worth it.

Thanks to scriptwriting by Shaye Ogbonna, God's Country delicately tackles systemic racism and the sexism brought to bear through Sandra's experiences. Newton usually picks films that have meaningful things to say about societal ills, and continues that pattern here. And, also as usual, she gives a nuanced performance, expertly playing a woman on the edge who's barely holding herself together. That said, the film demands a lot of patience from viewers, even with Newton's stellar performance, especially since an element central to the plot isn't really explained at all, but rather left to viewers to figure out what it means. Still, God's Country is another brooding performance Newton can add to her amazing resume.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about grief. How does Sandra process grief? How have you seen the topic addressed in other movies?

  • How is race portrayed in the film? What message do you think the filmmakers want viewers to take away?

  • How did the movie's violent scenes affect you? Do different types of media violence have different impact?

Movie Details

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