Gone

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Gone Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Fascinating main character saves kidnapping thriller.

PG-13 2012 94 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 11 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Gone is a thriller about a kidnapper of young women. Although there's plenty of peril, tension, and violence -- including flashbacks to kidnappings, women being knocked out (with chloroform) and bound, gun use, and more -- the main character (played by Amanda Seyfried) is a strong, fascinating young woman. She's very tough, cunning, and crafty, although she often resorts to lying and isn't above hurting others. In addition to the violence, content includes some sexual innuendo and relatively infrequent language (including "s--t" and one "f--k"). One character is said to be an alcoholic, though she's never seen drinking; another character takes prescription pills.

Community Reviews

joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
May 29, 2012
age 14+

14 and up.

this great awesome thriller movie gone stars with Amanda seyfried has enough chills to keep your older teens entertain and parents you need to know that gone has some violence some strong language used and some drugs used such as prescription pills

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
MorFinB
MorFinB Adult
February 25, 2012
age 13+

Appropriate for 13 and above...maybe even 12...

Just got back from seeing this with my 13 year old boy, who doesn't like scary movies. This was perfect for him. There is pill-popping due to psychiatric illness, talk of AA, and gun use. There's a stabbing and the perpetrator meets a violent end, but it is not excessive at all. I liked the fact that the main character, Jill, follows her intuition and doesn't let others dictate what she does. In cases like this one, it is an important message for teens to learn. You cannot trust blindly. You must stand for something. Have courage. Prepare and strengthen your mind, etc... I have seen plenty of PG-13 movies that should have been an R -- this one wasn't even close.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Several months before GONE begins, Jill (Amanda Seyfried) survived a kidnapping. She now lives with her sister in Portland, works as a waitress in an all-night cafe, and constantly looks over her shoulder. When she arrives home one morning, her sister is missing, and Jill becomes convinced that the kidnapper has returned. Unfortunately, given her history of mental illness and a lack of evidence, the police don't believe her. But Jill knows that she has roughly one day to save her sister's life, so she does everything in her power, including avoiding the police and conning just about everyone in town, to pull off her next-to-impossible task.

Is It Any Good?

Gone is a most unusual thriller. It's not particularly focused on the killer's identity, and though it does drop in a red herring, the actual reveal means nothing. Likewise, the heroine is rarely in physical danger. Rather, the main theme here is the "girl who cried wolf" story, in which the girl is tough, capable, and cunning. It's fun watching Seyfried bluffing and conning her way through scene after scene; no opponent can best her.

When viewers realize that the bad guy here isn't necessarily the killer, but rather the cops, the movie begins to take shape. The police are the ones who have labeled and cornered Jill, using underhanded tactics and slimy behavior. Her telephone conversation with the killer is the first honest, civil one she has in the movie. Overall, Gone is an odd but appealing combination of flat and subtle, sturdy and loony.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. What's scarier -- the stuff you see, or what you don't? What's the impact of both types of scares?

  • Jill is tough, capable, and cunning, but she also lies and isn't above hurting people. Can people be role models despite serious flaws?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

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