Surge
By Tom Cassidy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Tense thriller tackles mental illness; language, violence.
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Surge
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What's the Story?
In SURGE, a lonely airport security guard, Joseph (Ben Whishaw), has a nervous breakdown, leading him to a manic day of crime and confusion across London.
Is It Any Good?
This excellent British thriller is an empathetic depiction of loneliness, stress, and mental illness. There's no finger-pointing or righteous indignation in Surge. Just observation and understanding of a realistic, yet tragic situation. Director Aneil Karia keeps the camera on the remarkable Whishaw at all times. We're at his joyless birthday party with his parents and we're anonymous alongside him at his job. The loneliness and despair is infectious. He's in the thick of London's city but entirely alone. When he snaps, he breaks out of his mental cage and doesn't know what to do with his freedom. The handheld camera keeps up at his dizzying pace as the city he's not part of rushes by in a blur.
Whishaw's honest depiction is both astonishing and almost unbearable. Each time we cross another line where intervention might have changed his path, your heart breaks a little bit more. Add its loaded social commentary, bank robberies, impulsive sex, black humor, car crashes, and fist fights, and Surge is a thrilling movie with a lingering message.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Surge portrayed mental illness. Did it seem like a realistic portrayal? How did it compare to other depictions you may have seen in movies? Why is it important to ensure mental illness is portrayed honestly and accurately on-screen? How does that help with how people living with mental illness are seen in society?
How might Joseph's journey have been different if he had received the help he needed?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Talk about the film's violence. Was violence celebrated in this film? What affect did it have on you? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 24, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: October 25, 2021
- Cast: Ben Whishaw , Ellie Haddington , Jasmine Jobson
- Director: Aneil Karia
- Inclusion Information: Gay actors, Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: FilmRise
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 22, 2023
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