Scenes with killing and blood. A character alludes to suicidal thoughts and (spoiler alert), in one of the final scenes, a gunshot is heard, alluding to the possibility of a character dying by suicide. Tragedy involving a parent.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Sexual content includes lap dancing and kissing. A male character is shown nude from the waist up and later undresses to his underwear to change clothes.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Despite problematic behavior and heavy themes, the heart of the film is about a character choosing integrity and using courage to break a violent cycle.
Positive Role Models
a little
Plenty of seriously flawed people here. But Jacob is the movie's emotional core because he wants to protect his integrity and remove himself from his father's drug ring. He uses courage to take on his father and save himself and his girlfriend from succumbing to crime.
Diverse Representations
Flagged for concern
Women are largely defined by the men in their lives, and at least one is subjected to violence because of a man. Characters are straight and White.
Parents need to know that Devil's Peak is a drama/thriller about a young man who decides to go against his drug kingpin father in order to save himself and his girlfriend. There are scenes of violence, with deaths, blood, gun use, and a brief description of suicidal ideation. Other scenes show drug use (methamphetamines), smoking, and drinking, as well as some sexual content (kissing, lap dancing, a shirtless man). Strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," an exclamatory use of "Jesus Christ," and more. Hopper Penn, Billy Bob Thornton, and Robin Wright star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
There are a couple scenes where female living with the father is dressed provacative. One scene she is in a revealing nighty and another scene she is in underwear and lace tanktop dancing around for the father. This is in addition to her giving a quite lengthy lap dance in a previous scene.
What's the Story?
DEVIL'S PEAK follows Jacob (Hopper Penn), a young man who lives with his father (Billy Bob Thornton), a local kingpin in Appalachia who resorts to violence to retain his power. Once Jacob starts a relationship and experiences a tragedy with his mother (Robin Wright), Jacob embarks on a battle against his father to end the violent cycle once and for all.
This movie hits a lot of the beats you'd expect from a drama/thriller like this. And, to be fair, it isn't trying to do anything to subvert viewers' expectations -- it knows what it is and it does a good job of entertaining those who like seeing good characters get out of bad situations. Devil's Peak features sturdy performances by Thornton, Wright, and Jackie Earle Haley, which ground the film. You could argue that they're typecast, since it's not uncommon for Thornton, Wright, and Haley to play hardboiled characters who are ethically on the wrong side of the tracks. Penn performs well too, but it also feels like more could have been added to Jacob's characterization and arc beyond his being scared or angry. On the whole, the film gets the job done, but it doesn't add more to the conversation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jacob's actions in Devil's Peak. How does he demonstrate courage and integrity?
How does the violence in this movie compare to what you might see in an action or horror movie? How does that affect its impact?
How are women portrayed here? Are they well-developed?
How does the movie depict suicidal ideation? What should you do if you're worried about a friend or family member? What resources are available to help both kids and adults? (If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.)
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.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
