Retaliation

There is a foreboding sense of violence from the start. Repeated descriptions of child sexual abuse. A character flies into an uncontrollable rage, smashing a car window, hitting the driver with a hammer, and then punching their own friend unconscious. The friend ends up in hospital with sever cuts and bruises. There are other violent outbursts including punches, headbutts, and people having their throats grabbed. Someone repeatedly stabs their own hand with scissors, which results in them needing to have an operation to repair the damage. A character talks about "raping myself until I bleed." After pouring gasoline on themselves, a character sets themselves on fire in front of their young niece. A violent incident -- involving a knife -- is retold as a "funny" story. Another character recounts cutting their parent's head off. Someone dies of natural causes -- they are seen slumped dead in their armchair.

A couple have sex on two occasions -- one of which naked breasts are seen. The couple refer to their relationship as being "casual." A character bends over and uses a lubricated pole anally. Pornography on a laptop shows someone naked and masturbating saying, "I'm going to cum." Some male nudity, including naked buttocks and a brief glimpse of pubic hair. Reference to oral sex.

Multiple uses of "f---ing" and "f----r." "Bastard," "bloody," "c--k," "arse," "cum," and "c--t" are also used. Detailed descriptions of child sexual abuse. Someone describes themselves as waking up, "sweating like a rapist."

Several scenes take place in a pub, where characters drink multiple glasses of beer. Reference to drunken behavior but not depicted. A character is seen smoking a cigarette.

Parents need to know that Retaliation (also known as Romans) is a troubling drama about child sexual abuse within the church. It features strong violence and language, and detailed descriptions of sex abuse. Malky (Orlando Bloom) is forced to face his traumatic past when he sees the priest that abused him as a child. Struggling to deal with his emotions, Malky is prone to violent outbursts. One involves him smashing a car window and brutally assaulting a stranger with a hammer. He also punches his friend unconscious, landing him in hospital. He abuses himself both sexually and physically. In one graphic scene, he repeatedly stabs the back of his hand with a pair of scissors. In another, he repeatedly inserts a pole anally while bent over in front of a mirror. Malky has casual sex with on/off girlfriend, Emma (Janet Montgomery) who he struggles to emotionally open up to. Though the sex scenes are brief, there is female nudity. Despite his flaws, Malky is shown to be a loving son and a loyal friend. There is a strong profanity throughout -- including "f--king" and "c-- t." Spoiler alert: In the movie's climatic scene, a character pours gasoline on himself and sets himself on fire. This is witnessed by a young girl. Due to the adult themes, violence, and strong graphic language, this movie is for older teens only.

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