Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irish drama about a sexual assault; language, smoking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
God's Creatures
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GOD'S CREATURES, Aileen O'Hara (Emily Watson) is overjoyed when her son, Brian (Paul Mescal), suddenly returns from Australia to their small fishing village in Ireland. However, her joy is short-lived when a violent crime takes place and the village's small-knit community is pulled apart.
Is It Any Good?
This moody Irish drama, with its blowing winds and impending sense of doom, sweeps you up and doesn't let you go. God's Creatures tells the story of a violent sexual assault from the perspective of the mother of the accused. The film asks its audience difficult questions, but which are impossible to ignore. At the heart of the film is a mesmeric performance from Watson, as she slowly but surely realizes that her prodigal son -- played by an equally impressive Mescal -- may not be the golden child she thought he was, or at least pretended he was.
Critics could accuse the film of ignoring the victim of the assault, instead solely focusing on Aileen's wrestle with her own conscience. This perhaps explains the ending, which while quietly powerful, feels like it belongs to someone else's story. But as a tale seen through the eyes of a conflicted mother, God's Creatures is a powerful and thought-provoking drama.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how God's Creatures dealt with the themes around sexual assault. Did you think it was handled sensitively? Why is that important? What do you think the film was saying about how victims of sexual assault are treated?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Discuss the character of Aileen. Can you understand why she lied? What do you think you would have done in her position?
A number of characters are shown smoking in the film. What are the dangers of smoking?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 30, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : September 30, 2022
- Directors : Saela Davis , Anna Rose Holmer
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : June 22, 2023
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate