Parents' Guide to

Spinning Man

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Sturdy, smart thriller has drinking, violence, sex.

Movie R 2018 100 minutes
Spinning Man Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This little thriller, part lurid potboiler and part philosophical quandary, plays like a sturdy B movie: It won't change the world, but it might keep late-night viewers from changing channels. Spinning Man skillfully provides visual bits of the mystery without offering any definitive answers; it constantly keeps viewers off-balance and unsure about whether Evan is innocent. Thanks to Pearce's performance, however, we hope that he might be. Evan's lectures feel realistic and thoughtful, rather than perfunctory or functional; they offer genuine reflection on the rest of the story. Frequent images of mice and traps also help the movie's atmosphere.

Brosnan offers another interesting layer; his detective Malloy speaks slowly, and his every behavior is measured (he's shown to be a recovering alcoholic), which makes his moments with Evan intelligent and engaging. The climactic sequence with the two of them, while unorthodox, is also fairly brave and somewhat fascinating. Likewise, Driver's Ellen -- rather than being a sidelined "wife" character -- actually has feelings and a past, which she calls upon to make her character believable and sympathetic. Of course, Spinning Man also knows how to work more below-the-belt angles -- it has its moments of erotic desire and anticipation -- and it doesn't add up to anything exceptional, but it's still a dizzy entertainment.

Movie Details

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.

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