Parents' Guide to Marionette

Movie NR 2020 112 minutes
Marionette movie poster: Dr. Marianne Winter drives a car with a storm in the background.

Common Sense Media Review

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

age 15+

Twisty thriller has violence, suicide, language, drinking.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Marionette Trailer
  • Marionette: Dr. Marianne Winter holds a piece of paper up in front of her, looking concerned.
  • Marionette: Manny holds a crayon over a drawing, an angry look on his face.
  • Marionette: Dr. Marianne Winter and Elijah Wolf sit at opposite sides of a desk as he draws a picture.

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What's the Story?

In MARIONETTE, Dr. Marianne Winter (Thekla Reuten) moves to Scotland following a tragic accident and begins work as a child therapist in a gloomy coastal town. When her 10-year-old patient Manny (Elijah Wolf) starts drawing dark images and claims he can control her future, she gets sucked into a terrifying mystery that threatens her sense of reality, and her life.

Is It Any Good?

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

This high-concept thriller keeps the tension taut and viewers guessing right until the end. Marionette (a feature-length film inspired by writer-director Elbert van Strien's own short from 30 years ago) is a twisty, turny mystery that packs a psychological punch. The film -- also known as Repression -- relies heavily on Reuten (In Bruges), who is on screen the majority of the time in the lead role, alongside the atmospheric sets and landscapes that Scotland provides in spades. Wolf also delivers as a devil child, all pent-up fury and cold, staring eyes. It's a little long at nearly two hours and gets tangled up in its own philosophical musings at times. But while the third-act reveals may leave some with furrowed brows, it certainly doesn't disappoint in terms of keeping us hooked and delivering a unique setup from start to finish.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Marionette explored the notion of reality, both in the narrative and the more philosophical conversations between characters. Did you find it interesting, confusing? What was your reaction to the twists later in the film? Can you think of other movies that toy with reality and how do they compare?

  • Marianne showed empathy, curiosity, and perseverance during the film. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times you've shown these personality traits in your own life?

  • The movie shows violent acts on-screen including shooting and suicide. What did you think of the level of violence? Was it necessary? How did it affect the viewing experience?

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

  • Did you think Marianne drank too much? Were there consequences to her drinking?

Movie Details

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Marionette movie poster: Dr. Marianne Winter drives a car with a storm in the background.

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