Safe Haven

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Safe Haven Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Predictable romantic drama deals with pretty heavy themes.

PG-13 2013 115 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 10 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 21 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Safe Haven (based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks) is a romantic, at times suspenseful drama that's heavy on cliches and formulaic plot twists and light on chemistry and inventiveness. While the romantic stuff is pretty tame for teens, save for one session in bed that reveals bare shoulders, the film does deal with heavy subjects such as death and spousal abuse. One character clearly has an alcohol problem (he's shown drinking while driving), which colors his decisions at work and at home. He also turns violent, resorting to guns and worse. There are also scenes with a destructive fire and a bloody knife, as well as some swearing ("s--t" is the worst of it).

Community Reviews

Lewis2a
Lewis2a Adult
August 14, 2019
age 12+

Really good romance/thriller

I personally loved this film. One day my kid was asking what I wanted to watch with her and I recommended this. She liked the look of it so we tried it out and she loved it! It was quite creepy, but not too scary - she was 12 when we watched it, and I was there to make sure she didn't get too scared! I think that this film has a really good message and great role models, and definitely taught my daughter about being safe and getting out of unhealthy relationships. It's a good romance film as well, with one sex scene that's very mild and doesn't show much. There is a big twist about what Katie had done, and another twist at the very end of the film. Overall very enjoyable! My kid actually watched this film with one of her friends because she wanted to share it - her friend was also 12 - and she enjoyed it too!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Matt B.
Matt B. Adult
July 24, 2017
age 14+

Good romance movie

Like most romance movies it's appropriate for teens and adults. This one is a little more harsh one. It contains a sexual scene that is a little harsh for a 13 year old. It's more for 14 and up.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks -- author of The Notebook, The Last Song, and The Lucky One -- SAFE HAVEN finds a young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) landing in a small North Carolina town, brought in a by a bus she boards under extreme duress. Her intent is to keep her distance from the locals, fashioning a spartan but content existence away from her past. But she can't help falling for Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widower with two adorable children who owns the local gas station and convenience store. She also befriends Jo (Cobie Smulders), an equally mysterious neighbor who encourages her to take risks and enjoy life. But Katie can't let herself get comfortable, not with the secret she's keeping that's threatening to upend her fragile, new life.

Is It Any Good?

By now, it's clear that Sparks has a fan base for whom a movie like this is especially formulated. You can pretty much predict the bits that are sure to appear: footage of gorgeous sunsets, a mysterious stranger pulling into town, a gallant man drawn to a gentle woman, a secret that tears them apart, an obstacle that, really, isn't much of one. Yes, it's all here.

Director Lasse Hallström knows how to paint with light; his canvas is strewn with vibrant hues (except for when he's denoting an evil presence, in which case scenes are drained of color, of course, because, well, evil). But all of the pretty cinematography and dark undertones can't save Safe Haven from its sickly-sweet core. We're all for heartfelt romance, but audiences deserve for them to be much smarter than this.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Safe Haven portrays relationships. Parents, talk to your kids about the signs of unhealthy (and even abusive) relationships.

  • Is this a typical damsel-in-distress movie? If so, in which way? If not, how?

  • Discuss Katie's decision in the beginning of the movie: Did she have any other recourse?

Movie Details

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