Parents' Guide to

Absentia

By Mark Dolan, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Generic serial killer mystery wastes good lead performance.

TV Amazon Prime Video Drama 2018
Absentia Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 4 parent reviews

mm126
mm126 Adult
August 16, 2018
age 18+

Liked the suspense - plot a bit wild

Strong female lead but lots of awful serial killer stuff, tortured kids etc

This title has:

Too much violence
Rebecca T.
Rebecca T. Parent
May 31, 2018
age 18+

Looked up on another review site

This is what they had on the movie. Sex scene in a hotel room shows sides of woman's breasts pressed against the man's chest. No private parts are visible. Woman appears in wet, transparent t-shirt. Nipples visible through wet clothing. There are several scenes with full female nudity and sexual bondage/torture. There are a few scenes in a strip club where naked and partially-clothed female dancers are shown on poles and giving lap dances.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Six years ago, FBI Agent Emily Byrne was pronounced dead in ABSENTIA, and Conrad Harlow, a suspect in a number of missing persons cases, was imprisoned for her murder. Fast-forward to present day, and Emily reappears, having escaped from a deserted industrial space where she'd been held prisoner by an unseen captor since her disappearance. Now Emily has to readjust to a world where everyone thought she was dead. Her husband has remarried and her son, Flynn, now calls another person Mom. As Emily tries to reconnect wth her family, Harlowe gets released and the FBI investigates her story, but all the facts don't quite add up.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (3):

This series sets up an intriguing mystery, but it's all served in a very familiar package. Unceasingly dour in tone and filmed in a murky palette, Absentia wants to be sure the viewer knows this is dark, serious subject matter. Unfortunately that doesn't make it very interesting to watch. Stana Katic gives a good performance as Emily, particularly in the scenes when she tries to reconnect with the son she doesn't know and reconcile with the fact that the husband she still loves has moved on with his life. It's this family drama story that actually differentiates Absentia; without it, all that's left is just another grim serial killer story. It's too bad that Katic isn't surrounded by a stronger supporting cast who could bring something more unique to their characters than the rather obvious portrayals of raggedy cops, tough police captains, and stiff FBI bosses that fill out Absentia's ranks. Older teens with strong stomachs and lowered expectations may find the twists of the mystery interesting, but generic storytelling is the order of the day here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the idea of loss and family in Absentia. How do you think you'd react if someone you thought was dead came back into your life?

  • Do gross details make a story more believable? Do they make a story more intriguing or do they push you away?

  • There have been lots of serial killers in movies and on TV shows. Why do you think writers keep using these kinds of characters even though there have already been so many of them?

TV Details

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