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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this mature film about an online predator who targets unsuspecting teens is often disturbing to watch but could spark extremely important conversations between parents and teens about Internet safety. The predator's "grooming" and seduction of a 14-year-old girl are explicitly drawn, and the damage inflicted upon the girl and her family by the assault and its aftermath is intense and disturbing. Many scenes include sexual dialogue -- in conversation, in text message form, and on the phone -- and the community in which the story is set is portrayed as highly sexualized, essentially encouraging early sexual activity. There are violent fantasies in which the girl's father imagines a brutal attack on his daughter and projects his own revenge on the villain using fists and a gun. Language includes: "f--k," "s--t," "whore," "blow job," and more. Characters, including teens, drink in social situations, and there's a suicide attempt using prescription drugs.
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What's the story?
Fourteen-year-old Annie Cameron (Liana Liberato) is charmed and intrigued by "Charlie," a bright, funny teen she meets in an online chat room. As their texting and phone calls become more intense, Annie shields her parents from both Charlie's "forgivable" lies and the growing sexuality in their relationship. Then, a secretive meeting reveals that Charlie is, in fact, an adult -- who proceeds to lead the reluctant but still trusting Annie to a motel, where he takes advantage of her inexperience and has "quasi-consensual" sex with her. When Annie's concerned best friend realizes what's happened and confides in a school official, Annie's parents (Catherine Keener and Clive Owen) and the authorities are notified. The Camerons are horrified -- they're wracked with guilt for not having protected their child and devastated for her. Annie, still in Charlie's thrall, is furious. As disappointing efforts are made to heal Annie and find the predator, the family members become increasingly unstable and at odds with one another.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
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 in our Internet Safety Advice area.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about how teens can stay safe online. Why is it so important to protect your privacy? What happens when you share information about yourself on the Web?
What are the dangers of online anonymity? Does your family use any tools to lessen the risk of being exploited or abused via the Internet?
Teens: If you found out that someone you knew had an experience like Annie's, what would you do? Do you think it was handled correctly in the movie? What are your options in a situation like this?
How did Annie feel about herself after the assault? What finally made her face the truth?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | April 1, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | July 26, 2011 |
| Cast: | Catherine Keener, Clive Owen, Liana Liberato |
| Director: | David Schwimmer |
| 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 |
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QUALITY
compelling and creepy drama with some flaws but watchable.
2.5/5
A family is devastated by a crime committed against a teenage girl in this drama. Annie (Liana Liberato) is 14 years old and growing up in a suburb of Chicago. Annie's parents, Will (Clive Owen) and Lynn (Catherine Keener), are loving, but they've been busy with her older brother, Peter (Spencer Curnutt), who is heading off to college, so she spends a lot of time on-line chatting with a boy she met on the Internet, Charlie. Annie has developed a powerful crush on Charlie, and when he asks her to meet face to face, she eagerly agrees. However, Annie is startled to discover that Charlie isn't 16 years old, as she was led to believe, but in his mid-thirties (Chris Henry Coffey), and when he talks her into stopping by his hotel room, he sexually assaults her. Humiliated, Annie confides to a friend what happened, and eventually the police are notified; it turns out that "Charlie" is a sex offender they've been tracking for months. While Annie is devastated by the experience, her family is just as shocked by what happened, particularly Will, who becomes grimly obsessed with finding the man who raped his daughter. Trust was directed by actor-turned-filmmaker David Schwimmer, representing a significant change from the comedies that made his name.
wow first of all really???? m really surprised its been directed by David Schwimmer that is hard to believe. i would say this movie shock me up a bit, its compelling and somewhat dark. it had some flaws too so i am rating it this low. a really nice attempt by David for directing a movie, his message and his intention was really wide and clear but i wish he could have given his some more attention to the movie but still a nice watch.
this movie is something i would recommend every Teenage girl to watch because that really happens, i have heard and seen and it really disturbs me so much. this movie revolves around a 14 years old teenage girl who chats with someone unknown and she develops some friendly and then kind of more than that feeling for this guy. she is shown chatting with him about every little thing of her life and he seems to really pretend he cares and all but when he actually meets her he himself is not a teen but a 35 years old man. Annie being so attached to him over the whole chatting thing she somehow forgive him, thats where she did a mistake she should have run away from there, but that happens because young girls are not mature they are innocent. i was really disturbed by her raping, really felt for her. things get really worst emotionally for her obviously and her family.
Annie is played by Liana Liberato did a nice job as a sexually assaulted teenager, i liked her performance. she did a fine job. Clive Owen as her father Will was superb, one of his best performance i liked him. he is s good as a father. and what can i say about Catherine Keener she is always terrific, she plays Annie's mother Lynn. she was my favorite performer, she always does excellent. other actors include Jason Clarke, Viola Davis , Chris Henry Coffey , Spencer Curnutt , Aislinn Debutch , Noah Emmerich.
there are minor flaws in the screenplay that bothered me but overall the movie is strong that is why you won't much noticed. it is slightly uneven and hollow in many places. editing could have been better too. direction was nice but needs work to be honest.
story was something that is compelling to watch. after what happens to her that is when things get a bit repetitive that should have been focused according to me because the scenes feels repetitive. but overall a movie that is a must watch for parents and teens. and the ending was shocking to me, do notice the exact moment before the credits, that really shocked me. Recommended.
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
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QUALITY
very mature movie is not for kids
this mature film about an online predator who targets unsuspecting teens is often disturbing to watch but could spark extremely important conversations between parents and teens about Internet safety. The predator's "grooming" and seduction of a 14-year-old girl are explicitly drawn, and the damage inflicted upon the girl and her family by the assault and its aftermath is intense and disturbing. Many scenes include sexual dialogue -- in conversation, in text message form, and on the phone -- and the community in which the story is set is portrayed as highly sexualized, essentially encouraging early sexual activity. There are violent fantasies in which the girl's father imagines a brutal attack on his daughter and projects his own revenge on the villain using fists and a gun. Language includes: "f--k," "s--t," "wh-re," "bl-w job," and more. Characters, including teens, drink in social situations, and there's a suicide attempt using prescription drugs.
What other families should know
Too much sex
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QUALITY
Nudity within the first ten minutes.
I've only started watching it, and it is compelling and thought provoking, and seems like a good movie with a lesson to be learned, however--there is a scene, within the first ten minutes of the movie, where the girls go a party, and another girl is topless, riding a decorative horse statue. That may be a little too graphic for young teens and younger. Too bad there isn't a version for the younger set, with the same lessons to be learned.
What other families should know
Too much sex
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