Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Book-based Mexican drama with language, violence, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hurricane Season
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
HURRICANE SEASON opens with the macabre discovery of a corpse in a canal. We learn how the body ended there through the stories of various characters from the town, each of whom was involved with the late victim in some way. Through the personal recollections and memories, we learn there is more to the town than meets the eye, as it harbors unthinkable nightmares like a young woman carrying the baby of the man who hurt her the most, a young man who knows he can't be the person his parents want him to be, and a mysterious woman who holds economic and spiritual power that many perceive as a threat.
Is It Any Good?
The quiet peace of an idyllic landscape is shocked into unspeakable horror when a group of teenagers discover the corpse of a local woman floating on a river. But in Hurricane Season, what starts off as a whodunit, quickly turns into a slow-burn tale of dreams shattered by corruption, intolerance, necessity, and violence. Through the different points of view and recollections of several characters (most of them youths trying to improve their lives), we eventually discover how the woman ended up in the river, but the twists and turns along the way are shattering.
Directed with an unshowy style by Elisa Miller, the film unfolds like a twisted crime thriller with a socially conscious eye, where every character's story is worthy of its own film. Kat Rigoni gives a subdued, endlessly moving performance as Norma, a young woman escaping a horrible past who falls into seemingly kind hands that soon reveal they want to take more than they'll give her. Edgar Treviño is fantastic as La Bruja, a trans woman who has commanded the locals' respect, and jealousy, by living her life in an open way, quite the contrast to townspeople who are constantly in fear their secrets will come out. Despite its bleakness, the film suggests that light and love can seep through the narrowest crevices, in spite of the raging storms coming ahead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the actions of the characters in Hurricane Season. Are they justified by their needs? How would you do things differently?
How is La Bruja different from other trans characters you've seen in films and TV? How is she similar?
Norma escapes her abusive family and ends up in an environment that's just as dangerous for her. What would you do to help someone like her?
What character strengths were on display here?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 1, 2023
- Cast : Kat Rigoni , Edgar Treviño , Andrés Cordova
- Director : Elisa Miller
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 30, 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