Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic, violent French drama includes prolonged rape scene.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Irreversible
What's the Story?
In IRREVERSIBLE, a chilling story plays out in reverse as Marcus (Vincent Cassel) and Pierre (Albert Dupontel) try to track down the stranger who raped Marcus' girlfriend, Alex (Monica Bellucci). From its violent conclusion to the start of the evening, the strands of each character's life are revealed as the night plays out.
Is It Any Good?
It's impossible to have a good time watching this dizzying French thriller. But it's also impossible to deny the power of writer-director Gaspar Noé's Irreversible. The backward storytelling turns a tragedy into a mystery while creating a terrifying inevitability—the consequences of each scene have already been revealed. Terrible things are shown that will stay with viewers long after the closing credits, and the seriousness of the sexual assault and violence are never underplayed. Three powerhouse performances from Cassel, Dupontel, and Bellucci drive the movie forward, keeping its complicated look at emotions and extreme situations relatable, grounded, and devastatingly realistic. While the extreme graphic content serves the movie's unflinching approach, the unrelenting brutality may prove too much even for viewers who appreciate challenging cinema.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence and sexual assault in Irreversible. Both were realistic and extreme. Did you think it served a purpose to subject the viewer to a more realistic view or did it feel gratuitous? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Did your view of the main characters change as the story was revealed, scene by scene? Was this unconventional way of storytelling an effective way of challenging your assumptions? Do you think the movie would have the same impact if it was played in chronological order?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed and discussed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How were drinking, smoking, and drugs portrayed? Were there consequences? Did it glamorize them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 7, 2003
- On DVD or streaming : January 15, 2004
- Cast : Vincent Cassel , Monica Bellucci , Albert Dupontel
- Director : Gaspar Noé
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Altered Innocence
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : April 20, 2026
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