Parents' Guide to

The Clovehitch Killer

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Boy senses his dad is a serial killer; sexualized violence.

Movie NR 2018 109 minutes
The Clovehitch Killer Poster Image

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3):

This movie grabs you right away, giving us a 16-year-old narrator who has skills of observation, meticulousness, self reliance, and preparedness, as instilled in him by his Scout leader dad. Telling the story from the point of view of a naïve observer following his suspicions is a clever conceit, and leaves us rooting for a confused boy and also concerned for his safety.

Performances by Plummer and McDermott are excellent and go a long way toward helping us forget the gaping holes in the movie's otherwise-absorbing narrative. A crime victim has the opportunity to call the police but doesn't. A witness also has the chance but doesn't. Finally, the movie doesn't do much to explain why it's better to take punishment of a criminal into one's own hands rather than to turn that criminal over to the authorities. Still, older teens who can handle the mature content are likely to be sucked into the story.

Movie Details

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