SAS: Red Notice
By Stefan Pape,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Non-stop violence in fun action-thriller; strong language.

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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SAS: Red Notice
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Red notice
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Action movie with a strong intellectual point about human psychology
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What's the Story?
SAS: RED NOTICE follows suspended operative Tom (Sam Heughan) as he takes his girlfriend Sophie (Hannah John-Kamen) to Paris to propose. When inside the Channel Tunnel, a group of terrorists -- led by Grace Lewis (Ruby Rose) -- hijack the train, sending a message to the UK Government: give us money, or we blow up the tunnel. But what they didn't anticipate, was that somebody so specially trained just happens to be on board.
Is It Any Good?
Based on former SAS soldier Andy McNab's fiction book, this is a throwaway action movie that does exactly as it says on the tin. Mostly set in just one setting, and in real time, SAS: Red Notice follows a classic cinematic trope of one man against a whole army of mercenaries, slowly but surely spoiling their fun. With this comes many twists and turns, as you never quite know which character is on which side and who is double crossing who.
While this keeps the audience on their toes, as we build up to the climax, there's very little new here. It's familiar territory, and while tried and tested, the film does lack a sense of originality. Perhaps given the nature of its action-packed narrative, it's a movie that would really benefit from a big screen viewing. Heughan impresses in the lead role, but the star of the show is Andy Serkis, stealing each scene he is in -- though, sadly, there aren't quite enough of them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about SAS: Red Notice's non-stop violence. How much of it was necessary to the story? Did it seem excessively gory or brutal? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Was the distinction between good and evil clear enough in this movie? The terrorists seem to take aim at a corrupt establishment -- did this make them sympathetic? Discuss whether the film's politics are okay in this regard.
Discuss the sexual assault in the movie. How did it make you feel? Did you feel it was necessary to the story? Would you have felt different if it had been a man committing the assault, as opposed to a woman? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 16, 2021
- Cast: Sam Heughan, Ruby Rose, Andy Serkis
- Director: Magnus Martens
- Inclusion Information: Middle Eastern/North African actors
- Studios: Vertical Entertainment, Redbox Entertainment
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Book Characters, Trains
- Run time: 123 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong/bloody violence and language throughout
- Last updated: June 2, 2023
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