Parents' Guide to It Is in Us All

Movie NR 2022 92 minutes
It Is in Us All: The silhouette of a man is shown in the sky above a fire burning in the countryside

Common Sense Media Review

Kat Halstead By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Moody Irish drama has death, language, suicide references.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • It Is in Us All: A young White man stands with his arm in a sling.
  • It Is in Us All: A young White man reaches out to stroke a cow, with a younger White man standing opposite him.
  • It Is in Us All: Four White figures stand in the woods, looking down into a ditch.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In IT IS IN US ALL, Hamish (Cosmo Jarvis) arrives in a small Irish town to visit a house left to him by his aunt. When he is involved in a car accident that kills a teenage boy, he strikes up a relationship with the boy's friend, Evan (Rhys Mannion), as their lives unravel and they attempt to deal with their grief, both past and present.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

While the moody Irish landscapes and artistically-lit close-ups make for an atmospheric film, the narrative itself never quite delivers on the brooding promise. It Is in Us All is an ambitious debut from actor turned writer/director Antonia Campbell-Hughes that shows potential in the complex material it tackles around repression and masculinity. Jarvis and Mannion do well with what they're given, but their characters and relationship feel underwritten, and moments of potential high tension feel a little flat and awkward in places. A character study that never seems like it's quite got to grip with its subjects, the movie leaves us understanding as little about the leads as they do about each other, and possibly themselves. It's a stylish affair, but the substance is a little murky beneath.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the theme of gender and masculinity in It Is in Us All. How did the two lead characters compare -- what were the differences and similarities in the way they expressed themselves?

  • The film deals with grief -- both in the past and present. How did both leads react to and deal with the aftermath of the car crash? What other things did you think they were grieving in their lives?

  • Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • This is the first feature film from actor Antonia Campbell-Hughes. Can you think of other actors who have moved into writing and directing? What do you think might be the pros and cons of having worked in the industry in a different role?

Movie Details

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It Is in Us All: The silhouette of a man is shown in the sky above a fire burning in the countryside

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