Solace

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Solace Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Forgettable thriller about psychics and serial killers.

R 2016 101 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 18+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

No reviews yet.

Add your rating

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

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

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Solace is a thriller with supernatural elements; Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell co-star. Expect brief but gory sequences (including crime scenes), flashes (visions) of blood and gore, dead bodies, car chases/crashes, guns and shooting, stabbing and slicing, and more. Sex (between both opposite-sex and same-sex pairs) is also shown briefly but pretty graphically, with heavy thrusting and partial nudity: A woman's bottom is shown, as are parts of her breasts. A sexually transmitted disease (HIV) is mentioned. Language includes many uses of "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole," and there's some drinking and smoking, mostly in a social context. The movie covers deals with some interesting ideas/concepts, but they're blandly executed.

Community Reviews

Chetan A.
Chetan A. Adult
October 9, 2017
age 18+

Better vision to live better present ?

I guess this story line is explained somewhere with the example of mercy killing. But, its more than that. How ? It is about to have that kind of vision which gives clarity to your perception from present point of view. I always take movies of great Mr Hopkins with high regard and as something that there is something to learn. Its different, that this movie, and similar ones also, is a complete treat/celebration of the fact that each next second will be something that you already believe in, and now it is in front of you to know it AGAIN and just enjoy. Well, I will always wait for the time to be so real that I would meet a real life legend of this kind. It does give me some lift in my life, that not everything needs to be based on mathematical calculations, there are tons of feeling that we all have, which we cant express as the way we want. And that is why we like these movies. So, I wish to say that dont ever stop listening to your inner voice, be it non-sense at present. Tune it so that it make sense to you.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In SOLACE, while faced with an unsolvable series of murders, FBI Special Agent Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his partner, Katherine Cowles (Abbie Cornish), decide to call upon Joe's old friend/former colleague, Dr. John Clancy (Anthony Hopkins), who has psychic powers. Clancy is reluctant to go back to work after his daughter's death, but he nonetheless is immediately able to detect certain clues unseen by the FBI. They lead him to the potential killer, Charles Ambrose (Colin Farrell), a man with even more powerful psychic abilities, who may be doing what he's doing for what he considers the right reasons. Will the good guys be able to stop Ambrose -- and, more importantly, should they?

Is It Any Good?

Though it has a decent premise and a great cast, this supernatural thriller can't seem to overcome its crushingly mediocre screenwriting and filmmaking techniques. It's highly forgettable. It seems to want to raise questions about the quality of life; if one were able to predict a long period of pointless suffering in a human life, would it be humane to end that life before the suffering began? But the discussion never probes very deep, partly because the question isn't very realistic.

Hopkins seems content performing his character with his familiar, mesmerizing monotone, which, even though he's still great, will no doubt remind many viewers of Hannibal Lecter. The other actors, while trying their best, seem only to function as pawns of the plot, rather than as characters whose decisions drive the plot. The dumb action/chase scenes that eventually occur are only the final proof of Solace's vague, dissatisfying lethargy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Solace's violence. Even though the strongest violence is only briefly shown, what affect does it have? Do different types of media violence have different impact?

  • The sex scenes are graphic but brief -- does that affect their impact? Do they seem to represent loving, consensual sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • How does the movie view serial killer Charles Ambrose? Is it wrong to take a life in order to prevent suffering?

  • John Clancy is suffering from a tragic personal loss and doesn't want to go back to living his life. Have you ever felt that way? What choice did you make? What was the result?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • The Silence of the Lambs Poster Image

    The Silence of the Lambs

    Thriller that made the serial killer a superstar.

    age 17+
  • The Call Poster Image

    The Call

    Gripping thriller has tons of violence directed at a teen.

    age 17+
  • Red Lights Poster Image

    Red Lights

    Horror/thriller about psychics has violence, language.

    age 16+

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate