Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Frustrating, violent take on stalker/psychopath thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Tutor
What's the Story?
In THE TUTOR, Ethan (Garrett Hedlund) has it pretty good. He makes a decent living tutoring wealthy teens, and his girlfriend, Annie (Victoria Justice), is pregnant. Ethan lands a high-paying job tutoring a troubled teen named Jackson (Noah Schnapp). Before long, Jackson starts acting a little clingy and rather strange. Ethan finds photos of himself and Annie on Jackson's computer, and then things escalate when Ethan finds himself drugged and dumped in a lake. Before long, it's Jackson who is claiming to be the victim, causing Ethan to lose his job. But there are still more secrets to be revealed.
Is It Any Good?
This thriller tries to subvert the old stalker/psychopath subgenre, but, saddled with two deeply unsympathetic characters and moving in odd, baffling rhythms, it ultimately frustrates and annoys. Hedlund acts his heart out in service of The Tutor, but it's all in vain, given that his character -- supposedly a well-educated tutor -- says and does so many dumb things. He's frequently abrasive and confrontational, and his dialogue, which is supposed to be cagey, is merely befuddling. Meanwhile, poor Schnapp seems stuck in a restrictive role, held captive in tight turtlenecks and with a short, plastered haircut; he has little to do but act creepy. Justice has even less to do, other than be married to the main character, be pregnant, and occasionally ask him where he's been. And, these flat characters aside, The Tutor ultimately squanders its one good idea. It flounders in its attempts to get to its big reveal, and then, when the idea has been used up, it simply turns into a waste of time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Tutor's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How is drinking portrayed? Is it glamorized? Is alcohol abused? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Why are people often so fascinated by stories about stalker characters? How is this movie similar to or different from others in the genre?
Why is revenge so appealing as a story motivation? How does revenge end for the main character in this case? How does revenge usually work in real life?
Do you think this movie improves on a familiar formula? Is it always possible to improve on stories that have seemingly already been done?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 24, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : May 9, 2023
- Cast : Garrett Hedlund , Noah Schnapp , Victoria Justice
- Director : Jordan Ross
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, some violence and sexual material
- Last updated : April 7, 2023
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