K-thriller has extreme violence, sex, some moral lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Beatings with threats of torture -- like using an instrument inserted into someone's nose to make "blood soup." Long, drawn-out scene of mass murder by gunshot with blood spewing out of heads, out of chests; hundreds of people lying in bloody piles. Threat of murder that makes people do horrible things to each other. Men beat women who are lying on the ground, grab them by the hair. Threat of sexual violence. Suicide attempt. Sadistic game master enjoys seeing people killed, makes light of people's pain and suffering.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Money and greed, gambling, and hustling are themes here. Certain Korean brands are seen but not focused upon.
Diverse Representations
some
Because it takes place in Korea, there is strong Asian representation. Women play secondary roles, are often treated with disdain. Within the game, most players are men who appear to be in their 20s to 40s; a larger age range is depicted outside the game.
Korean culture, language, and customs are embedded into this thriller.
Positive Messages
very little
Be loyal to your friends. Honesty pays off. Respect your family. Help others even if it puts you at risk.
Positive Role Models
very little
Elders in this show dispense wisdom, and they are considered but not always revered or respected. Main character Gi-hun yells at his elderly mother, steals her debit card. Gi-hun adores his tween daughter, but she tends to act like the adult in the relationship, advising him to stop smoking and not get beaten up.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the level of violence is very intense in Squid Game. Characters are systematically tortured and killed for the sadistic pleasure of a game master. Adults have sex, and there are threats of sexual violence: Women are grabbed by the hair and beaten. Themes concerning the highs one gets from gambling, winning, or conning money are a main focus.
I personally really liked it as a 19-year old, but i definitely don’t think it’s for kids. I know for a fact that if i was still 13, i would’ve watched it at school with friends and i would’ve been fine i think but i don’t see a point of kids seeing this much graphic violence. Some parents and kids reviews saying it’s 10-12+ make me kinda sad, i would not let a kid that young watch it, even if they are ’mature’ this kind of violence and dehumanization still affects your brain in a way or another, especially in kids whose brains are developing in a very important way at that age. 16-18+ in my opinion.
Full of extreme violence and gore. All the characters are just plain evil. I couldn’t get past the 3rd episode. Traumatized me. Please stay away from this.
What's the Story?
In SQUID GAME, 47-year-old Gi-hun lives with his mother and sometimes works as a chauffeur. After stealing his mother's debit card, withdrawing her savings, and taking it to a gambling den, he's hunted down by debt collectors who threaten to take his kidney and his eye if he doesn't come up with the money he owes within a month. His 10-year-old daughter is living with a wealthy stepfather, who may be moving far away, and things look pretty bleak. Then a mysterious stranger with a briefcase approaches Gi-hun in a subway station, enticing him to play a child's game for serious money. When he loses, he is slapped. When he wins, he makes good money. The stranger gives him a card, inviting him to join a bigger game for really good money. Will Gi-hun call? Will his life be the same if he does?
Though too violent for young teens, there are some moral lessons peeking out behind the lines in this series. In Squid Game, the play between the clownish, down-on-his-luck main character, Gi-hun, and the cold killer behind the game he's lured into creates an intriguing tension. The characters are nicely developed, and the production value of the series is extremely sleek. The human element lends depth.
But there is a lot of torture and murder to endure -- no subtlety there -- and the violence can come off as gratuitous. Some predictable plot points distract from the fine acting and the high-minded concept. Fans of dystopian thrillers will enjoy this series. Sensitive or younger viewers should avoid this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about intense violence as seen in Squid Game. A character enjoys seeing people in pain. How does seeing violence like that influence how you think of human nature?
Characters in this series are in debt, often because they're addicted to gambling. Are there addictions that are of concern to you?
Characters in this series smoke. What can you do to help keep your friends and family from smoking?
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 Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
