Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

The Bay

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Fake docu about disturbingly believable gory disaster.

Movie R 2012 84 minutes
The Bay Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 5 parent reviews

BigboyChungas1000
BigboyChungas1000 Adult
January 4, 2021
age 13+

Decent

Solid film. Somewhat believable. Gross but told very skillfully.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Aaron C.
Aaron C. Parent
April 5, 2020
age 18+

Spine tingling Eco thriller.

This "found footage" documentary has a lot of disturbing, disgusting content & some gore. It might not be entirely engaging, but it's thrilling at parts. Certainly terrifying & very thought provoking.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 2009, in Chesapeake Bay, Fourth of July celebrations are under way as usual. Journalism student Donna Thompson (Kether Donohue) prepares to document the festivities on camera, but something terrible happens. People start getting sick and developing disturbing blisters and boils all over their skin. Soon people begin dying. In the present day, Donna assembles her own footage as well as footage from many other sources to piece together what happened: a series of man-made conditions combined to create mutated, super-parasites called isopods. But can these creatures be stopped before it's too late?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (5 ):

Oren Peli, the crafty creator and producer of the Paranormal Activity movies brings us THE BAY, with -- surprisingly -- Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson at the helm. Fortunately, Levinson appears very passionate about the movie's frightening environmental message, and it recalls the vicious satire of his Wag the Dog. But at the same time, The Bay's message is presented within the context of thrills and scares, making it much less preachy than it could have been.

Unlike the set-ups of many other fake documentary horror films, Donna's character actually gives The Bay a reason to exist; this isn't just footage that was "mysteriously" found or shot without any good reason. The combination of different kinds of footage fits together well, and several recognizable characters emerge, even if none of them (aside from Donna) is particularly three-dimensional. Overall, Levinson does a commendable job of conjuring up squirm-inducing moments and horrifying tension.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Bay's violence. What's the impact of seeing dead bodies in large numbers vs. people getting killed off one by one in (as in a slasher movie)? How does a movie's plausibility affect the impact of its violence?

  • Does this movie's premise seem believable? Does the fake documentary format help? Why do you think filmmakers are drawn to that format?

  • What does The Bay have to say about the environment? Should we, as citizens, be more aware of what's going on around us? How?

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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