Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bodies pile up in gory horror series' third installment.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The horror show that is Skye Rotter's (Lauren McKnight) life continues in bloody fashion in MTV's MY SUPER PSYCHO SWEET 16: PART 3. After taking the life of her own serial killer father to stop his murder spree a few years back, Skye has attempted to put her life back together with the help of her long-distance boyfriend, Brigg (Chris Zylka). Now she's moving cross-country to start fresh, but a pleading phone call from her estranged step-sister, Alex (Kirsten Prout), brings her to the latter's self-designed Sweet 16 birthday party. It isn't long before the festivities give way to a bloodbath at the hands of a party crasher, but is he really the mastermind of the carnage, or is there another reason that this kind of tragedy has touched Skye's life again?
Is It Any Good?
The violence is gratuitous and far-reaching, there's some underage drinking, and the plot is thin and predictable. Anyone who's seen the previous two movies knows what comes of ill-fated Sweet 16 parties among this crowd.
To be fair, horror films aren't expected to offer a stellar plot or top-notch acting, and teen-geared horror films rarely attempt to meet any kind of industry standard. In that respect, this third installment in a story based on a subpar reality series makes the grade. There's a distinctively sexy nature to the movie, both in physical contact that implies sex between teens and in how Alex uses her appeal to manipulate her admirer's actions. What's more, the movie spends very little time getting newcomers up to speed on the characters' background, which makes some of the story's more intricate aspects unnecessarily confusing.
If there's anything positive to be gleaned from the story, it lies in Skye's inexplicable aptitude for overcoming the compounding tragedies of her life. It's certainly not relatable to viewers on a similar scale to Skye's, but there's something to be said for her determination to put the past behind her and make something of herself. This is a very minor consolation prize for enduring the tragedy that is this movie, but at least it makes for a modest silver lining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what My Super Psycho Sweet 16 has to say about consequences. Do any of the characters face real-life consequences for their actions? Do other horror movies do a better or worse job of portraying reality? Should entertainment be realistic, or are some stories better left to the imagination?
Should there be a limit on violence in movies or on TV? Do ratings do enough to educate parents about the violent content that exists in movies like this one?
Teens: Do you think the media does a good job of reflecting reality in its presentation of teen life with regard to drinking and sex? How have your and your friends' experiences differed from what you see in the movies and TV shows you watch?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 29, 2012
- Cast : Chris Zylka , Kirsten Prout , Lauren McKnight
- Director : Jacob Gentry
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MTV Films
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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