"Attack the Block" comes to the Harkins Theatre at Tempe Marketplace this weekend. Note: The trailer that I've linked is filled with language.
The film is getting a lot of critical buzz. The Arizona Republic gave it 4 stars. I'm not that generous, but it was a decent low-budget sci-fi horror flick with a few laugh-out-loud moments. The social commentary, as pointed out in the AZ Republic review is a bit over the top. But the entire movie is, as this genre usually is.
"Attack the Block" is probably going to be something your teen boys will want to see since it's about teen inner-city boys kicking alien butt. Maybe some of your daughters will want to see it to hang with the guys. It's R-rated, so the question is will they get in? If they do, here's what you need to know:
There is lots of graphic language. The F-word is common, but so are many others. These are tough inner-city kids living in London. They will school you in language. Even the little kids spew out some choice words. As a mom, you'll want to wash their mouths out.
Drugs are everywhere. There's the big room where pot is grown. The teens and others are buying and smoking it and getting high. A thug gives one of the teens drugs to sell.
It's a horror flick, so there is gore and a few attack scenes that will make you jump. It's not super intense in my opinion. You know when an attack will take place. But blood squirts out a plenty.
Besides the kids attacking aliens and aliens attacking a variety of characters, there is gun violence, fires, vehicles tossed and explosions. A drug thug attempts to kill the teens a few times for destroying his property.
A woman at the beginning is mugged. Not so scary after everything else that happens. But it's the most realistic scary situation in the movie.
Only you know what is best for your kid. My personal feeling is this is something most 15 year olds can take, should you allow it. I'd add a discussion about violence, drugs and film fantasy after seeing it. Yes, roll your eyes! I'm just that way. Here's a link to Common Sense Media's review, which has the movie as a 16 and older flick. There are a few decent discussion questions, too.
I'm not comfortable letting my 14 year old see this kind of film yet. I'm a mom and want to shelter my kid a little longer.
Cheers!
