Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irish drama based on book has some sex and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Secret Scripture
What's the Story?
In THE SECRET SCRIPTURE, Rose McNulty (Vanessa Redgrave/Rooney Mara) has spent the last 50 years in a mental hospital after being accused of killing her baby. When Rose receives a visit from psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Grene (Eric Bana), he -- with help of Rose's diary -- begins to uncover what really happened.
Is It Any Good?
With its opening line of, "My name is Rose and I didn't kill my child," this Irish drama sets up a compelling mystery. Unfortunately this big build-up fails to deliver on its promise, with The Secret Scripture proving to be an albeit well meaning, but unremarkable plod down memory lane for its lead character, Rose (played by Redgrave in the present and Mara during the 1940s sequences). Adapted from an award-winning novel that no doubt gave the time and space for its characters to breathe, the movie fails to give any emotional weight to those on screen. This means that when the big moments come along, their contrivances are both predictable, unbelievable, and sometimes bafflingly amusing.
With no investment in the characters, at its best we're watching great actors do their thing, with Mara, Redgrave, and Bana given time to shine in spite of the hokey material. That's not the case elsewhere though, with some key performances giving a purely televisual quality to the movie, hobbling it further. Playing against Hollywood heavyweight Mara, the brooding, smouldering Theo James as Father Gaunt can't keep up and it veers into soap opera territory. The subject matter of the demonization and mistreatment of women and mental health patients is a worthy one. It's just mangled by an odd script adapted from a flawed fairy tale story that asks a lot of the viewer without giving much back.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Secret Scripture depicted the treatment of patients in mental hospitals. Were they treated with dignity and respect? How did the treatment of Rose compare in the 1940s to modern day? How have care practices changed over the years?
Did the film shed light on any real-life injustices you didn't know about before? What do you think of what happened to Rose?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about the violence in the movie. What did the movie have to say about violence? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 13, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : October 13, 2017
- Cast : Rooney Mara , Eric Bana , Vanessa Redgrave
- Director : Jim Sheridan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , History
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : disturbing thematic content, some sexuality and language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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