Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Talky, progressive Western is thoughtful but violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Surrounded
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SURROUNDED, it's 1870 in New Mexico. Former Buffalo Soldier Mo Washington (Letitia Wright), posing as a man, boards a stagecoach to Colorado, clutching a Bible that contains a deed to her very own piece of land. The driver, Curly (Kevin Wiggins), allows her passage but forces her to ride on the back with the luggage. The other passengers include lawman Wheeler (Jeffrey Donovan); smooth-talking, whiskey-swilling Fields (Brett Gelman); and snooty Miss Borders (Augusta Allen-Jones). Before long, outlaw Tommy Walsh (Jamie Bell) and his men ambush the stage, resulting in the coach crashing over a cliff, Fields getting shot, and Walsh being captured. It's determined that Wheeler and Fields will head to the nearest town to find medical and law enforcement help, and that Mo will be left to watch over Walsh, who's been chained to a tree. The wily criminal begins trying to talk Mo into letting him go, promising half of a massive treasure that's buried nearby.
Is It Any Good?
Talky but thoughtful and beautifully composed, this post-Civil War-era Western addresses complex nuances of race, gender, discrimination. Directed by veteran music video helmer Anthony Mandler, Surrounded has a strong, lyrical visual style, using its landscape to powerful effect. A dead, craggy tree, some winding canyons, and sinister woods enhance the story in glorious ways. And lanky Wright cuts a strong figure
Andrew Pagana and Justin Thomas' screenplay addresses many themes, starting with the need for Mo to pass as a man. A woman on the stagecoach is done in by her racism; she refuses to take the hand of a Black woman and goes off a cliff. Michael K. Williams, in his final film role, appears as a man who claims to want to help but could be a bounty hunter; he wonders why Mo doesn't "trust her own kind." Mostly, Mo and Tommy have many discussions about freedom and what it truly means. And, indeed, Mo has freedom, but very few choices. Surrounded may be too static for fans of shoot-'em-up cowboy movies, but it's a unique, handsome, and necessary addition to the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Surrounded's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How is racism depicted here? How do various characters see and react to Mo?
Characters discuss the meaning of freedom. Which theory do you agree with most? Do you have your own theory?
What's interesting about the Western genre? What can stories about the Old West tell us about the way we are today?
How is drinking depicted? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 20, 2023
- Cast : Letitia Wright , Jamie Bell , Jeffrey Donovan
- Director : Anthony Mandler
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM
- Genre : Western
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and language
- Last updated : June 19, 2023
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