Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British drama asks tough questions about sexual consent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Have Sex
What's the Story?
HOW TO HAVE SEX tells the story of three young friends, Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce), Skye (Lara Peake), and Em (Enva Lewis), who set off for a post-exams trip to a Greek resort. With sex very much on their minds they instantly befriend their hotel neighbors, Badger (Shaun Thomas) and Paddy (Samuel Bottomley), as the girls hope to live out the best holiday of their lives. But things take a disturbing turn.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful British drama is a weighty and all-too-realistic yet, above all, important tale that can serve as a catalyst for vital conversations among teens. How to Have Sex starts off with a pulsating energy, as the three female leads hit the bars and clubs on a Greek island on the first night of their post-school-exams holiday. But events soon take a much more serious turn, raising questions about consent when it comes to sex. What makes the film so powerful, is how director Molly Manning Walker -- in what's a remarkable debut feature -- depicts such upsetting events with a level of complexity and subtlety while never diminishing the seriousness of them. For teens watching the film, some may recognize the behavior depicted on-screen, while others may be forced to confront their own attitudes to sex. At the center of the story is McKenna-Grace, whose superb performance as Tara carries the film, as she tries to make sense of what has happened to her. It can be a difficult watch at times, but in its short runtime of just 91 minutes, it manages to confront its audience with important questions about sexual consent in a very real way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what How to Have Sex was trying to say about consent when it comes to sex. Why is a film like this so important? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the movie? Were they glamorized? Did the characters need to do these things? What were the consequences?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 2, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : April 5, 2024
- Cast : Mia McKenna-Bruce , Lara Peake , Enva Lewis
- Director : Molly Manning Walker
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : MUBI
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , Holidays
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 1, 2025
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