Parents' Guide to

Pathology

By James Rocchi, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Medical thriller mixes extreme violence, sex.

Movie R 2008 93 minutes
Pathology Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

huskaroo
huskaroo Adult
October 15, 2011
age 18+

Don't Bother.

Sick and pointless, no rational explanation and so on.Poor acting, script and way too violent and sexual.Not for children.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
_momo_
_momo_ Adult
December 3, 2009
age 17+

Mature only.

I love this movie. I think if the person that's seeing it knows what they are doing is wrong(murdering people to be able to play their "game") then it can't force the person to do it too.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Brilliant young pathologist Dr. Ted Grey (Milo Ventimiglia) has accepted a position in the pathology department of a major urban hospital. His new co-workers are hardly welcoming, but soon charismatic Dr. Gallo (Michael Weston) shares his hidden philosophy with Ted: "It's in our nature to kill." Turns out Gallo and his co-workers have been killing randomly-selected victims ... and challenging one another to try to discern their inventive "perfect murders." After joining the group, Dr. Grey soon finds that getting out is much more difficult than getting in.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (2):

Pathology is trying to shock audiences, and it does -- but at the same time, it at least does so through its characters and with bleak conviction. With recent PG-13 horror/thriller films like One Missed Call, Prom Night, and Shutter having breezed in and out of theaters, it's at least refreshing that PATHOLOGY makes no bones about what it is: A grisly, R-rated thriller. Director Marc Schoelermann has clearly been reading the David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) playbook, as his film takes place in a visually majestic (yet still terrifying) city of secrets and conspiracies.

Kudos also to screenwriters Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor for refusing to take any easy ways out with Ventimiglia's character; Ted isn't a starry-eyed innocent embroiled in trouble, but rather a willing participant in his own damnation. The movie succeeds in its mission, with more than just endless buckets of blood.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fact that the movie mixes extreme violence with sex. What's the difference between positive sensuality and fetishized mingling of sex and violence? Why would filmmakers gravitate toward the latter instead of the former? What messages does this movie send about sex and violence? Families can also discuss the ethical and professional checks and balances that exist to prevent abuse by real-life medical personnel. What are the stakes when those systems fail?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: April 16, 2008
  • On DVD or streaming: September 22, 2008
  • Cast: Alyssa Milano, Michael Weston, Milo Ventimiglia
  • Director: Marc Schoelermann
  • Studio: MGM/UA
  • Genre: Horror
  • Run time: 93 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: disturbing and perverse behavior throughout, including violence, gruesome images, strong sexual content, nudity, drug use and language
  • Last updated: October 8, 2022

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