Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unsettling serial killer period drama has sex and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER, Jean-Baptiste (Ben Whishaw) is born on the stinking streets of 18th-century Paris with an incredible sense of smell. Rising from the slums, he becomes a perfumer but with a deadly goal -- murdering in an attempt to recreate the scent of a woman he killed.
Is It Any Good?
Starting on the stinking streets of 18th-century Paris, where hot meat, maggots, and vomit are commonplace, you'll be thankful that you don't possess the smelling skills of main character Grenouille. Based on a novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer sets the scene well but then fails to keep the momentum. The unsettling horror plot with a one-note villain -- Whishaw's Grenouille is on a murderous pursuit to try and recapture the smell of his first murder victim -- is perfect for a 45-minute episode of a show like The X-Files. But stretched to a movie -- with a runtime of 147 minutes -- it struggles. Another bad smell that hangs over the film is the feeling the women's corpses are fetishized by the filmmakers -- their topless, posed bodies are paraded a bit more than feels necessary. A final twist comes with a truly unpredictable ending that turns this odd movie on its head and depending on the viewer, makes or breaks it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Were there repercussions for those responsible for the violence? Why does that matter? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How were women portrayed in the movie? Did you find anything problematic with their roles or lack of? Why representation matters in kids' media.
How did the movie portray sex and relationships? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Did you know so much care and attention went into making perfume and scents? What combinations of smells, oils, and ingredients do you think would make your perfect fragrance?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 27, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2007
- Cast : Ben Whishaw , Dustin Hoffman , Alan Rickman
- Director : Tom Tykwer
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Arts , Book Characters , History
- Run time : 147 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : aberrant behavior involving nudity, violence, sexuality, and disturbing images
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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