Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Flat, dull misfire of an action movie has bloody violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shrapnel
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SHRAPNEL, two teen girls from Texas go missing after attending a party in Juárez, Mexico. The father of one girl, former Marine Sean Beckwith (Jason Patric), takes matters into his own hands. In Mexico, he finds the girls' car, but when he goes to get the local police, the car vanishes. He learns of a powerful cartel, "Los Mercenarios," that likely has his daughter. He reveals this information during a TV interview -- which the leader of the cartel, Vic Garza (Mauricio Mendoza), sees, prompting him to launch an all-out attack on Beckwith's Texas home. Using his military training, Beckwith saves his wife (Kesia Elwin) and younger daughter (Emily Perry) and leaves most of his attackers dead, including Garza's brother (Guillermo Ivan). With nothing left to lose, Beckwith joins forces with his old colleague, Max Vohden (Cam Gigandet), to stage an all-or-nothing invasion on the Los Mercenarios stronghold.
Is It Any Good?
With a complete lack of interest in suspense or character, this dull action thriller consists almost entirely of shoot-outs between grim-faced heroes and utterly generic villains. Shrapnel doesn't even begin with the kidnapping, and we don't see the imperiled girls until the end. It's as if the filmmakers decided against including such character-building moments in order to make room for more shooting. The result is that there's nothing remotely emotional about this rescue.
The action sequences -- filmed with no sense of space or rhythm and with shabby, jerky camerawork -- are draggy and meaningless. (The villains have terrible aim.) But the dumbest moment by far is when Beckwith goes on the news to threaten the cartel. Somehow, the cartel boss happens to be watching this local broadcast in his stronghold and instantly reacts by sending an army to Beckwith's house (where the gates, for some reason, are wide open). Nobody on either side of the law seems to be using their heads. The title, Shrapnel, has nothing to do with anything, but it's appropriate anyway, as it describes a chunk of something that ought to be discarded.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Shrapnel's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be satisfying? Why? Can it ever truly solve a problem?
Do you consider Sean Beckwith to be a role model? Is he heroic? Does he break the rules?
How are women portrayed in this story? Do they have agency? Are there stereotypes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 28, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : July 28, 2023
- Cast : Jason Patric , Cam Gigandet , Kesia Elwin
- Director : William Kaufman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Saban Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence throughout, language and brief sexuality
- Last updated : August 3, 2023
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