Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Swearing, mature themes, blood in bleak dystopian thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lazareth
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
An aunt (Ashley Judd) protects her two nieces (Sarah Pidgeon and Katie Douglas) from a violent and viral pandemic-stricken world in LAZARETH. But their peaceful isolation is threatened when an injured man enters their lives, desperate for help.
Is It Any Good?
LAZARETH desperately attempts to add meaningful purpose to this dystopian tragedy, but ends up stumbling around in the dark. Gloomy and grim with little direction, this highly underdeveloped story has good intentions but poor execution. It's a slow burn, and the lack of action might bore some teens. Along with the sluggish pacing and lack of exciting twists, poor character development and overused survival tropes distract the audience from the important messages about overprotection and isolation that the film is trying to convey.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the filmmakers wanted the audience to believe about fear and survival. How does the film use fear to influence the characters? The audience? Why is safety valuable and important to have in life?
Do you think Lee is a good parent? When do good intentions of protecting a child become bad intentions of controlling a child? Is it ever acceptable for a parent to hide information from a child to keep them safe?
How should a parent balance a child's safety, freedom, and independence? What responsibility should a child have in their own decision making?
Is it possible to be physically safe but not have a healthy and fulfilling life? Give an example.
If you were in this situation, would you rather have had a parent who kept you physically safe but controlled your life or a parent who gave you greater freedom but greater risks of virus exposure and possibly death? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 10, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : August 9, 2026
- Cast : Ashley Judd , Katie Douglas , Sarah Pidgeon
- Director : Alec Tibaldi
- Studio : Vertical
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Adventures , Dystopia , Family Stories ( Siblings , Single Parents )
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 13, 2026
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