Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark comedy-horror is violent, gory, profane, and excellent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Prevenge
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PREVENGE, mother-to-be Ruth (Alice Lowe) is driven by the voice of her unborn child to go on a killing spree to avenge the death of her husband. Deciding "baby knows best," she picks out those she feels are responsible and brings them to a bloody end, one by one.
Is It Any Good?
Alice Lowe writes, directs, and stars in this bold comedy-horror that mixes bloody gore with a very British form of pitch-black humor and a powerful female viewpoint. Prevenge is part revenge story, stalker thriller, body horror, and deadpan comedy—somewhere in the middle, a unique voice emerges (and not that of the creepy unborn child). The kills are remorseless and gory at times, and there's certainly a feminist edge to the reasons and the ways in which some of the victims meet their grisly end. They're the actions of a woman who's lost everything and can only think to fight for the one thing she has in her future. The angelic voice of her baby is ridiculous, but oddly fitting in the world Lowe creates. Not all tonal shifts are smooth, however, but much can be forgiven thanks to the sheer audacity of some of the choices here. Lowe's work is unapologetic, it's dark, and, most importantly, it's incredibly entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of revenge in Prevenge. Do you think it's ever right to take revenge? Did you think Ruth's victims deserved to be held to account? Did taking revenge help Ruth or make her feel better?
Some of the killings included bloody, gory details. Did you think these were necessary? Did the intensity of the violence add to the comedy? What other movies combine gory violence with comedy? What makes the combination successful? What's the impact of media and screen violence on children?
There's lots of strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the story? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this? If so, why?
Alice Lowe writes, directs, and stars in the movie. Why is it important to see female-led stories told by women? Can you think of other women making their mark on the horror-comedy genre? How does their work compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 24, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : April 13, 2017
- Cast : Alice Lowe , Kayvan Novak , Jo Hartley
- Director : Alice Lowe
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Shudder
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee
- Last updated : November 29, 2024
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