Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, gore in unique pandemic-themed horror movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sick
What's the Story?
In SICK, it's April 2020 and Parker (Gideon Adlon) and Miri (Bethlehem Million) are two college students who go to a lake house owned by Parker's parents to ride out the quarantine. While its isolation and tranquility seem to make it the perfect place, their peace is soon shattered by a knife-wielding man dressed like a ninja. Soon, Parker and Miri are in a struggle for their lives, desperate to survive and to understand why this person is so determined to kill them. The answer is more than they bargained for as Parker and Miri must make it through the night without being cut to pieces.
Is It Any Good?
This is a horror movie with a twist that's actually good. Sick is set in April 2020, and takes us back to the bad old days of quarantine, wiping down food newly purchased at the grocery store, scrambling for toilet paper, social distancing, etc. While the quarantine seems to be little more than the catalyst to get our characters into the proverbial cabin in the woods, the connection and the big reveal show that it's much more than that.
It's a rare horror movie where the second half, and the third act in particular, are much more than serial killing and gore, although there's plenty of both. The payoffs are actually rewarding, and more than a little disturbing in terms of the lengths the crazed killers have gone to get vengeance and attain some twisted sense of justice. This is what saves it from being just another shopworn "people in the city going to a house in the country where they'll be attacked by the killer or killers" horror movie. It's one of the better movies out there that can be filed under the burgeoning #covidlyfe2020 movie genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horror movies like Sick. How is this similar to and different from other horror movies you've seen?
How does the movie use the early days of the COVID pandemic to heighten the story? What comment is the movie making about the pandemic?
How does the violence compare to that in other horror movies? Was it too much or necessary to the story? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2023
- Cast : Gideon Adlon , Bethlehem Million , Marc Menchaca
- Director : John Hyams
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Peacock
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Strong violence, terror, language throughout and some drug use.
- Last updated : January 26, 2023
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