Parents' Guide to

Black Summer

By Jenny Nixon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Fast-moving zombies terrorize survivors in grim, gory drama.

TV Netflix Drama 2019
Black Summer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 16+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Ecclesyus
Ecclesyus Parent of 15 and 17-year-old
January 24, 2023
age 18+
Season 1 Episode 6 had a lot of sexual stuff. When the group arrives at a safe place, the guard gropes the lady. Then, later on when they are put into the holding cell, there is a couple having sex, no nudity, but a full on sex scene. A little later on, the guard from earlier assaults the woman and is stopped, nothing is shown.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
2 people found this helpful.
MzAmanda4u
MzAmanda4u Adult
February 11, 2020
age 16+
It’s great for adults. Too much bad language for young kids.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BLACK SUMMER follows a handful of men and women (including Sin City's Jaime King as "Rose") in the early days of a terrifying zombie outbreak as they attempt to evacuate the suburbs -- a move that has been ordered by the military, who also fly by periodically to dive-bomb the area, trying to contain the spread of the mysterious virus. The survivors hope to make it to the designated safe zone at a nearby football stadium, where they will presumably be airlifted to safety. It won't be easy, and they'll face obstacles not only from the bloodthirsty undead, but from fellow humans as well.

Is It Any Good?

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

With at least three zombie-centered TV series currently airing, viewers could be forgiven for feeling a bit fatigued at the idea of adding a fourth. Unlike previous offerings, however, Black Summer eschews drawn-out character development and long stretches of weepy dialogue and goes directly for the jugular with a show focused more on nonstop survival and action scenes than pseudo-deep fireside chats (The Walking Dead, we're looking at you!). And whatever the show's weaknesses might be -- the special effects are decent, if a little underwhelming -- it's kind of refreshing to see a show that's just out to scare its audience. They do a good job of maintaining an anxious vibe in each episode, where you truly don't know when one of these ghouls might pop out at you.

Part of that is down to the style of zombie they're highlighting here: These are not the shuffling, slow-as-molasses zombies of old-school horror movies. They're lightning-fast and filled with rage; victims who are bitten start to turn within minutes. It won't be to everyone's taste, but for horror fans who crave more action and excitement than emotional depth, Black Summer may be just the ticket.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of zombies in pop culture. Why is this myth so enduring? Beyond the fact that some audiences just love to be scared, how are zombies used as a metaphor to represent deeper themes and ideas? (Example: Zombies being used to satirize consumerism in the classic 1978 horror movie Dawn of the Dead.)

  • Survivors in films and TV shows like Black Summer take many different approaches to endure in an impossible, post-apocalyptic world. Many are faced with horrible choices they wouldn't normally make if the circumstances were not life-or-death. Talk about the sacrifices characters make that might be at odds with their moral beliefs.

TV Details

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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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