The Desperate Hour
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The Desperate Hour
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Desperate Hour is a tense thriller about a mother attempting to get to her kid during a school shooting. The movie takes place in real time and focuses almost entirely on Amy's (Naomi Watts) journey to her kid's school. The shooting is referenced via news reports, and phone and video calls, rather than shown on-screen -- though one video call shows a terrified teen hiding and another of blood splatter from a gunshot. There is mention of injury and the death of a student in the attack, as well as the past death of a father in a car crash. Occasional strong language includes "f---ing" and "s--t." There is a highly tense atmosphere throughout, and the upsetting nature of the topic may be too much for younger viewers or those affected by related tragedies. At the end of the movie there is some discussion about the importance of talking about and working toward the prevention of gun violence. The movie is known as Lakewood in some territories.
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What's the Story?
In THE DESPERATE HOUR, Amy (Naomi Watts), a recently widowed mother, is out running in the forest when she hears of a shooting at her son's school. Stuck miles away, she frantically tries to reach him, all the while staying up to date with the unfolding tragedy via her cellphone.
Is It Any Good?
Unfolding in real time, this tense thriller relies almost entirely on the confident performance of Watts. Showing a nuance in her acting that the screenplay of The Desperate Hour (also known as Lakewood) fails to replicate, Watts maintains a believable and sympathetic performance as increasingly contrived plot points are thrown her way. Working through the array of functions on a modern cellphone -- which, or course, will run out of battery right at the crucial moment -- feels like a technique that would have held more relevance in the late 2000s. Here, it serves to connect Watts' frantic Amy to the outside world and unraveling events, but the actor could have been trusted to hold the screen a little longer between interruptions.
Approaching an incredibly difficult issue with varying degrees of success, the movie shows the tragedy from a mother's point of view, which is a poignant angle -- acknowledging every parent's nightmare -- yet it also creates a distance that may feel like a cop out to some. It's certainly emotive and builds a strong sense of dread, and the final message of "I won't stay quiet and I hope you won't either" is an important one. But somehow The Desperate Hour, as a whole, feels underwhelming, despite the weight of the topic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Desperate Hour handled the topic of school shootings, and both the personal and political issues surrounding them. Was it depicted sensitively in light of similar real-life events? How does the media typically address this kind of violence?
What do you think the movie is trying to say about gun violence?
Talk about the use of strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
For most of the film, the only connection the main character has with others is via a cellphone. Can you think of any other movies that use a similar technique? What effect did it have?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 25, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: April 19, 2022
- Cast: Naomi Watts, Colton Gobbo, Sierra Maltby
- Director: Phillip Noyce
- Studios: Roadside Attractions, Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: High School
- Character Strengths: Communication, Empathy, Perseverance
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: thematic content and some strong language
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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