Parents' Guide to

Pandorum

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Relentless, intensely violent sci-fi chiller isn't for kids.

Movie R 2009 108 minutes
Pandorum Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

MicahGA
MicahGA Adult
April 15, 2011
age 2+

Pandorum: The Virus Is Just About As Bad As The Movie

Pandorum is an interesting film. The plot and story line are not bad at all, however the move can get boring after a while, for there is only so much you can do with vicious creatures and a few humans on a space ship in the future! The movie lacked any positive messages; in fact, it lacked messages alone! No message here. The violence is absolutely disturbing. Everything from humans being sliced open to talk of cannibalism. I felt as if this movie was nothing more than a film to pacify those out there who just like to watch terrible acting and gory story lines. This movie is absolutely not for kids, older kids, tweens, teens or adults for that matter. This is not because it was disturbing, but because it was just simply, not a good film. I would give the director a pat on the back for showmanship, but nothing more.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
uytt2
uytt2 Adult
October 29, 2009
age 11+

rent it

this movie looked cool in the trailer bu it kind of sucked nobody really acted well and i also didnt get the plot rent it becuse it might scare you at some point

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the future, the spaceship Elysium is launched on a very special mission. From one of its hibernation chambers, Bower (Ben Foster) awakens, not knowing who he is, how long he' has been asleep, what his final destination is, or how far away he is. A senior officer (Dennis Quaid) also awakens, and they agree that Bower -- using his still-remembered training -- will embark upon a dangerous mission to find the ship's reactor and reboot it. To get there, Bower must travel through many dark, imposing and sometimes claustrophobic corridors. To his horror, he soon discovers that he's not alone on the ship -- and that not all of his new companions are friendly.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (9):

PANDORUM won't convert anyone who isn't already a sci-fi/horror fan, but for those already in the club, it provides some very intense, memorable chills. Directed by Christian Alvart, the movie has an especially effective set design, filled with dark, constricting, metallic corridors with lots of snaky black tubing poking out. The ship's lights keep flickering out, and every inky corner is filled with potential menace. And the off-screen screeching noises help keep up a constant sense of tension and dread.

The movie's theme of madness (the "pandorum" of the title) is played to the hilt, the violence comes fast and hard, and it will likely be a bit too much for most kids. Fortunately, the hero (Foster) is a likeable sort, and he grows and changes in an interesting way over the course of the film; the overriding theme is one of hope.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the effect of the movie's very intense violence and terror? How does it make you feel? Is it really necessary for the plot?

  • The film's prologue charts the future explosion in the Earth's population and mentions a severe shortage of water and food. What causes overpopulation, and why is it bad? What are some of the ways to curb it?

  • What's the difference between social order and rules and chaos?

  • What would it feel like to be away from your loved ones in deep space?

Movie Details

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