Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tense school shooting thriller has some language, threat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Desperate Hour
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
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Roadside Attractions , Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic content and some strong language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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