Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Insightful docu about tween suicide is meant for adults.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mallory
What's the Story?
In 2017, after enduring months of bullying and a lack of effective effort by her middle school to stop it, 12-year-old Mallory Grossman ended her own life. Her family transformed their grief into Mallory's Army, a suicide prevention and awareness outreach program. Through this program and the group's efforts to create anti-bullying laws, they hope to put a stop to bullying while building empathy and resilience in teens.
Is It Any Good?
Executive-produced by the Grossman family, this empathetic documentary shows viewers a family managing their pain, striving to give meaning to their tragedy. Seth and Dianne Grossman reflect on Mallory as a bright light, a gymnast who outshone her teammates and who wanted to spend her life helping others. She was successful, she was cute, and her family appeared to have money -- in their estimation, that's what made her a target for bullies. The night before her death, she happily played in the pool with her family. She was a regular 12-year-old girl. And her parents exhausted every avenue to defend her, letting her know that she'd never have to return to her school again.
And yet, she was so tormented that they couldn't save her. What could have been done? As Seth states, everything is clearer in hindsight. Using that angle, the docu offers interviews with experts who explain the psychology behind bullying and why getting picked on in the Technology Age is too much to bear for some kids. While there are several insights in MALLORY, the key takeaway for parents is, "It could happen to you." Writer-director Ash Patino doesn't give adult viewers all the answers they're looking for -- those who want identifiable signs that a child is seriously considering suicide or definitive steps to preventing it may find there's not quite enough here -- but viewers will get a little to think about and a lot to mourn.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about an individual's responsibility to stand up, not stand by. Is that easy to do? How do you think people can really make a difference against bullying behavior?
Parents, talk to your kids about teen suicide. This is an incredibly tough topic, but one that needs to be addressed. What makes some people think that it's their only option? What impact does their decision have on their friends and family? Where can kids in distress turn for assistance?
One of the methods taught through Mallory's Army is empathy building. How does the film show that empathy can save a life? How does finding a purpose allow us to persevere and find meaning in difficult circumstances?
Talk about the different ways that people can bully others. What has the most lasting impact? Have you experienced bullying?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 23, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : February 23, 2021
- Cast : Dianne Grossman , Seth Grossman , Carlee Grossman
- Director : Ash Patino
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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