Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
The Manor
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Some violence, creepy imagery in clunky horror movie.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Manor
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In THE MANOR, Judith (Barbara Hershey) suffers a stroke in the middle of her 70th birthday party. In order not to be a burden on her daughter Barbara or grandson Josh (with whom she's close), Judith decides to move into an assisted living facility. Upon moving in, she soon finds that her life and freedom aren't what she expected. Her smartphone is confiscated as part of the policies of the facility to which she agreed when she signed the paperwork, not reading the fine print. Her roommate seems to suffer from night terrors that cause her to see things as she warns Judith to beware, and that she'll be next. While Judith feels restricted by the discipline and condescending treatment by some of the staff, she soon makes friends with a nurse named Liesl, and finds camaraderie in likeminded residents trying to make the most of their lives while there's still time, including a man named Roland (Bruce Davison) who seems to be attracted to her. However, Judith starts to have similar nightmares and visions as her roommate, and when she tries to convince those around her that they're real, she's made to question her own sanity. As Judith looks deeper into what's happening inside the facility, and after a shocking discovery made in a nearby diner after trying to escape from the facility, she must try to find a way to prove to Josh that there's something horrific going on, and, with Josh's help, escape before she too succumbs to the evil.
Is It Any Good?
The thoughtful commentary on the treatment of senior citizens is outweighed by horror movie cliches and a disappointing ending. It's a shame, because like the other movies in the "Welcome to the Blumhouse" series, The Manor really does try to represent people traditionally underrepresented in horror movies, and, in this case, move past the cliches and stereotypes that have far too often been the lazy go-to when depicting characters living in their proverbial "golden years." The best scenes aren't the scariest, but they do reveal humanity in characters like Judith (played by Barbara Hershey), a free-spirited 70-year-old now contending with ugly condescension from the staff at the assisted living facility she has chosen to move into after suffering a stroke. When the scares, such as they are, begin, the gaslighting she experiences effectively melds into the story, as both staff and family refuse to take her seriously, or act like they don't anyway.
However, the worst aspects of it soon grow tiresome. There are so many shopworn horror movie tropes going on -- "dark and stormy nights," crows, jump scares, and even a black cat that "senses death" -- it's easy to find yourself turning away from the movie not because it's scary, but because your eyes are rolling to the back of your head. The foreshadowing lacks all subtlety, so by the time we get to "the big reveal," it isn't particularly surprising.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horror movies like The Manor. How is this similar to and different from other horror movies you've seen?
What do you think are some of the more serious messages the movie is trying to communicate in terms of the elderly and how they're treated by those around them?
How have the elderly been traditionally portrayed and represented in movies? Why do you think this is?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 8, 2021
- Cast: Barbara Hershey , Bruce Davison , Nicholas Alexander
- Director: Axelle Carolyn
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Amazon
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 81 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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