Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, female-driven revenge thriller has language, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
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Stone Cold Fox
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Set in the 1980s, STONE COLD FOX follows Fox (Kiernan Shipka), a young woman who escaped a dangerous commune but is forced to return when her younger sister is kidnapped by the commune's manipulative queenpin leader (Krysten Ritter) and a corrupt cop (Kiefer Sutherland). Forced to face her traumatic past, Fox must decide how far she's willing to go to save her family, protect the ones she loves, and ultimately break free from control.
Is It Any Good?
A love letter to 1980s action films, this is a gritty, female-centric thriller that feels nostalgically campy but also tackles hard truths that still hit today. Chock-full of over-the-top action sequences, strong heroes, ridiculous villains, one-liners, and—of course—'80s aesthetics, Stone Cold Fox is an ode to the B movie that mixes old-school appeal with a modern twist. The story keeps things moving, never stalling too long or dragging the film out just because. And all of the actors are committed to their characters' archetypes, no matter that they're fairly cheesy.
Keeping female empowerment at the core of a film set in a very macho-man era, first-time director Sophie Tabet cleverly sneaks in more contemporary touches—a little CGI here, a little Pulp Fiction nod there—ultimately breaking the usual '80s stereotypes to feature LGBTQ+ storylines, underestimated women, diversity, and the power of survival. Overall, this indie thriller is a fun, casual ride down Commando lane.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the filmmakers' choice of time setting for Stone Cold Fox. What's the appeal of making a 1980s-set female-driven action thriller today? How do that era and the movie's commune environment affect the way that viewers understand the story?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that you had to "escape"—physically, mentally, or emotionally? What helped you to get through? Can you think of other movies with similar circumstances?
What does this film have to say about the idea of family—both family by blood and the family that Fox escaped from? How does she demonstrate both courage and perseverance?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 7, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : November 7, 2025
- Cast : Kiernan Shipka , Kiefer Sutherland , Krysten Ritter
- Director : Sophie Tabet
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 7, 2025
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