Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody violence, smoking, language in drug-dealer thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
In Cold Light
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
IN COLD LIGHT follows Ava (Maika Monroe), a recently released felon who's trying to regain control of the drug-dealing operation she built. When she's framed for murder, she must escape rival kingpin Claire (Helen Hunt), corrupt sheriff's detective Bob Whyte (Allan Hawco), and the blaming eyes of her father, Will (Troy Kotsur).
Is It Any Good?
It's not great, but at least this crime thriller makes one thing clear: No good can come from selling drugs. While money is being made from the criminal enterprise here, nothing about it seems glamorous or appealing, and In Cold Light makes it evident that the high risk is never worth the potential financial reward.
The drugs, though, are really a MacGuffin. Embedded inside the action, violence, and mystery of who's pursuing Ava is a more meaningful story about a father-daughter relationship broken by a family tragedy—and how another family tragedy offers an opportunity to either heal that bond or sever it permanently. Kotsur is phenomenal, especially in one memorable scene: an emotional confrontation between Ava and Will in the backyard at night, where the motion-detector light must be constantly reactivated so that they can communicate their suppressed rage through ASL and facial expressions, finally releasing everything they haven't said for more than a decade. There are so many ways in which this scene could have fallen short, but it's brilliant. Unfortunately, the rest of the film is not.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Deaf people and their families are portrayed in In Cold Light. Why is it important to show that being Deaf is a difference rather than a deficit? Why does representation in the media matter?
Can you identify the pivotal moment in Ava's journey where she's no longer self-centered? Would you call this a coming-of-age story? Why, or why not?
How did the movie's violence make you feel? How intense is it compared to that of other movies you've seen? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Are drug use and smoking glamorized in the movie? What about dealing? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 23, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : February 24, 2026
- Cast : Maika Monroe , Troy Kotsur , Helen Hunt , Allan Hawco
- Director : Maxime Giroux
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Saban Films
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads )
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence/bloody images, language and some drug material
- Last updated : February 3, 2026
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