Parents' Guide to

Trial by Fire

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Injustice is served in true crime tale; violence, profanity.

Movie R 2019 127 minutes
Trial by Fire Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

TRIAL BY FIRE examines the injustice exacted against Cameron Todd Willingham (Jack O'Connell), a small-town troublemaker who was convicted and executed for the death of his three daughters due to prosecutorial misconduct and suppression of evidence. Laura Dern co-stars as Elizabeth Gilbert, a playwright from Texas who fought passionately to try to save him after becoming Willingham's pen pal. The story is based on actual events.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

This drama succeeds in fueling the flames of America's mistrust of authority while cleverly allowing viewers to recognize their own bias. As demand continues to grow in true crime entertainment, a subgenre is emerging that exposes wrongful convictions, rife prejudice, and corrupt officials (shall we call it "untrue crime"?). Trial by Fire checks all of the boxes; it's designed to lead viewers to shock and outrage -- and perhaps to get them involved. For teens growing up in an era of hashtag activism, criminal justice reform may be a place to direct their efforts.

What makes director Edward Zwick's film especially smart is that it goes beyond showing an example of an unfair criminal justice system: It quietly and internally challenges viewers' own prejudice. The story unravels as it did for those following the news accounts of the deaths of Willingham's three daughters and his subsequent arrest, allowing audiences to play along. Do you believe Todd Willingham is guilty, or do you believe he's innocent? Are the facts as stated, or is there something else going on? Would you be inclined to think that a wife-beating town degenerate is guilty of murder -- and, even if he wasn't, that he shouldn't be alive anyway? It's a great tool, but: Parents, think twice about what your teen will take away from a film in which the villains win -- and, in this case, the "bad guys" are the police, the courts, and the governor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Parents can talk about how the criminal justice system is portrayed in Trial by Fire. Why do you think the Texas governor, the courts, and the district attorneys would ignore evidence that would exonerate WIllingham?

  • The film says that before the investigation began, detectives already believed Willingham was guilty, so they only saw the evidence that would justify their conclusion. In what other ways does this happen? How can we prevent our biases from leading us to inaccurate conclusions?

  • Did this movie change or intensify your feelings about the death penalty? Do you feel that was its intent? Who do you think the intended audience is?

  • How does Elizabeth demonstrate compassion? Do you think someone convicted of a terrible crime deserves kindness and human connection? Why is compassion an important character strength?

  • How does Willingham show personal growth while in prison? Do you think people can change?

Movie Details

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.

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