Parents' Guide to

Trust

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Online predator targets teen in mature, creepy drama.

Movie R 2011 106 minutes
Trust Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 8 parent reviews

age 18+

Documentary-like movie

The plot shows a could-be-real situation. Hated the end, really. I really didn't get why it ends like it does. I kkow in real life things end like that but hey, this is not a documentary, guys... it is a bloody movie!!! Too rough, to harsh, to hard... but damn... Felt Like I lost 3 hours of my life, and the movie is only 110 minutes...

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Too much violence
age 12+

Disturbing but Realistic

This film is a hard watch but an important one nonetheless. "Trust" follows a 14-year-old girl and her parents as they tackle the aftermath of sexual assault by an online predator. There is a fair bit of language and lots of sexual content, but I feel this comes with the territory when dealing with such heavy subject matter. I first watched this film 10 years ago, when I was 12 years old. It definitely made me realize the dangers of chatting with strangers online. I would encourage parents to watch this movie WITH their teens and teens, but don't have them have at it alone. It is very heavy, but could strike up some great conversations about online safety. Not everyone is who they say they are, and the effects can be devastating.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
Too much swearing

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Difficult subject matter is handled here with intelligence, restraint, and an effort to avoid trite resolutions and cliched characters. Director David Schwimmer, along with the writers and superb actors (particularly Liberato in a very challenging role), has created an unsettling, often creepy story that serves as a cautionary tale for parents.

The content is definitely on the mature side for teens, but those who do watch (along with their parents) are likely to come away with an important lesson about the importance of online safety. Parents can take that opportunity to emphasize the need for both privacy and skepticism when it comes to the Internet -- we have plenty of tips for talking about both.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: April 1, 2011
  • On DVD or streaming: July 26, 2011
  • Cast: Catherine Keener , Clive Owen , Liana Liberato
  • Director: David Schwimmer
  • Inclusion Information: Middle Eastern/North African actors, Female actors
  • Studio: Millennium Films
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 106 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: disturbing material involving the rape of a teen, language, sexual content and some violence
  • Last updated: October 2, 2023

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