The Violent Heart
Tragic drama has strong performances, violence.
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The Violent Heart
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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 Violent Heart is a drama with moments of violence and sorrow. Part romance, part mystery/thriller, and part melodrama, it follows a 24-year-old mechanic who, as a child, witnessed his older sister's murder, as well as an 18-year-old high school senior who's ready to rebel. There are a few scenes of intense violence, including three murders, two of which are bloody and disturbing. Expect a smattering of strong language ("f--k," "s--t," "oh my God") and a non-graphic love scene, as well as passionate kissing between a couple who are 24 and 18 -- an age difference that feels uncomfortable. Families who watch together can discuss everything from race and incarceration to honesty between parents and teens; themes include compassion, empathy, and perseverance.
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What's the Story?
THE VIOLENT HEART starts off with a 9-year-old boy named Daniel following his 16-year-old sister when she sneaks out of the house. He ends up witnessing her murder. Fifteen years later in the same Tennessee town, Daniel (Jovan Adepo) is a 24-year-old mechanic who's trying to enlist in the Marines despite a prior felony conviction. High school senior Cassie (Grace Van Patten) is an only child who's so close to her father, Joseph (Lukas Haas), that she doesn't mind the fact that he's also her English teacher. One day Joseph tells Cassie that she needs to take the car to a local garage for an oil change. The car needs work that will take overnight, so Cassie ends up asking Daniel for a ride back to the high school. They connect on the ride, but she's 18, he's 24, and he's headed to Nashville to secure a congressional endorsement for his waiver to enlist in the Marines. After catching Joseph in a compromising situation, Cassie decides that she'd like to head to Nashville too; once again, she asks Daniel for a ride. Their relationship escalates into romance while in Nashville, but it causes a stir back in their hometown.
Is It Any Good?
Reminiscent of old-fashioned melodramas, this emotional drama has standout performances and a heartrending plot -- but also uneven pacing and a contrived storyline. One plot point that could have easily changed is the initially uncomfortable age difference between Daniel and Cassie. It's unnecessary for Daniel to be 24; aging him at 21or 22 would still have been noticeable compared to Cassie but not borderline creepy. Writer-director Kerem Sanga at least addresses this concern by having Daniel claim that Cassie is too young, while she proclaims she's an adult. Cassie reveals her age with her naivete and her inability to see how she's actually making Daniel's life harder with her impetuous decision to pursue him.
The movie's strengths revolve around Daniel's story arc: his childhood trauma, his desire to join the military and make his father proud, his devotion to his mother (the excellent if underused Mary J. Blige) and 15-year-old brother Aaron (Jahi Di'Allo), who goes to the same high school as Cassie. The scenes between Daniel and his family are heartbreaking, because it's clear that their family is still grieving the loss of the oldest daughter/sister. Even Aaron feels the grief of losing a sibling he never met. Adepo and Van Patten have decent chemistry, but their relationship seems ill-conceived from the start. Race isn't overtly mentioned, but the movie is set in Tennessee, and Cassie's parents (Haas and Kimberly Williams-Paisley) mention "that boy" and how "troubled" he is, so it's there all the same. Ultimately, The Violent Heart's tragic aspects make it difficult to watch, but it's worth the effort because of the cast.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence depicted in The Violent Heart. Is it necessary to the story? How does the impact of realistic violence compare to that of more stylized or supernatural violence?
What are your thoughts on the difficulties that formerly incarcerated individuals face when finding work and trying to turn their lives around?
Do you consider anyone in the movie a role model? Why, or why not? What character strengths do the characters display?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 19, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: April 20, 2021
- Cast: Grace Van Patten, Jovan Adepo, Lukas Haas
- Director: Kerem Sanga
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy, Perseverance
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 25, 2023
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