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Parents' Guide to

Shallow Grave

By Kat Halstead, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

British crime thriller has violence, language, nudity.

Movie R 1995 89 minutes
Shallow Grave Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In SHALLOW GRAVE, three friends -- Juliet (Kerry Fox), Alex (Ewan McGregor) and David (Christopher Eccleston) -- advertise for a new flatmate. But just hours into the tenancy, they discover his dead body and a hidden suitcase full of money. After agreeing to keep the cash and bury the evidence, their initial high starts to give way to doubts and paranoia that threaten to expose the grisly truth about both the crime and themselves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

In this edgy directorial debut, Danny Boyle introduces some of the dark comedy and visual flair that saw his reputation firmly cemented two years later with Trainspotting. Offering up such unlikable characters without apology is a risky move, but one that Shallow Grave manages to pull off. All three performances are spot-on, Fox in particular shining in a comparatively underwritten part. Set mostly inside their apartment, a claustrophobic atmosphere helps heighten the tension, as the friends begin to toy with each other, with the power constantly shifting between them.

Boyle never wastes a frame, keeping the pace fast and unusually light, given the grisly subject matter. The film is thick with gruesome touches and moments of fleeting humor, its soundtrack foreshadowing the way music would become celebrated in Trainspotting. The disconnect between what's going on on-screen and songs such as Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For Me only adding to the characteristically fiendish wink that Boyle throws the audience's way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Shallow Grave. Did it seem over the top? Were the violent scenes shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • There is some nudity in the movie. Was it handled sensitively? Did it add anything to the story? Why does that matter?

  • How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Were they glamorized? Were there consequences?

  • Was it strange watching a movie where all the characters were intentionally unlikable? How did it make you feel? Can you think of any other movies like this?

Movie Details

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