 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Gone
- Review Date: February 25, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Fascinating main character saves kidnapping thriller.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Gone is a thriller about a kidnapper of young women. Although there's plenty of peril, tension, and violence -- including flashbacks to kidnappings, women being knocked out (with chloroform) and bound, gun use, and more -- the main character (played by Amanda Seyfried) is a strong, fascinating young woman. She's very tough, cunning, and crafty, although she often resorts to lying and isn't above hurting others. In addition to the violence, content includes some sexual innuendo and relatively infrequent language (including "s--t" and one "f--k"). One character is said to be an alcoholic, though she's never seen drinking; another character takes prescription pills.
What's the story?
Several months before GONE begins, Jill (Amanda Seyfried) survived a kidnapping. She now lives with her sister in Portland, works as a waitress in an all-night cafe, and constantly looks over her shoulder. When she arrives home one morning, her sister is missing, and Jill becomes convinced that the kidnapper has returned. Unfortunately, given her history of mental illness and a lack of evidence, the police don't believe her. But Jill knows that she has roughly one day to save her sister's life, so she does everything in her power, including avoiding the police and conning just about everyone in town, to pull off her next-to-impossible task.
Is it any good?
Gone is a most unusual thriller. It's not particularly focused on the killer's identity, and though it does drop in a red herring, the actual reveal means nothing. Likewise, the heroine is rarely in physical danger. Rather, the main theme here is the "girl who cried wolf" story, in which the girl is tough, capable, and cunning. It's fun watching Seyfried bluffing and conning her way through scene after scene; no opponent can best her.
When viewers realize that the bad guy here isn't necessarily the killer, but rather the cops, the movie begins to take shape. The police are the ones who have labeled and cornered Jill, using underhanded tactics and slimy behavior. Her telephone conversation with the killer is the first honest, civil one she has in the movie. Overall, Gone is an odd but appealing combination of flat and subtle, sturdy and loony.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. What's scarier -- the stuff you see, or what you don't? What's the impact of both types of scares?
Jill is tough, capable, and cunning, but she also lies and isn't above hurting people. Can people be role models despite serious flaws?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Appropriate for 13 and above...maybe even 12...
Just got back from seeing this with my 13 year old boy, who doesn't like scary movies. This was perfect for him. There is pill-popping due to psychiatric illness, talk of AA, and gun use. There's a stabbing and the perpetrator meets a violent end, but it is not excessive at all. I liked the fact that the main character, Jill, follows her intuition and doesn't let others dictate what she does. In cases like this one, it is an important message for teens to learn. You cannot trust blindly. You must stand for something. Have courage. Prepare and strengthen your mind, etc... I have seen plenty of PG-13 movies that should have been an R -- this one wasn't even close.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Jill's flashbacks and fear bubble over when it affects her sister.
The anxiety Jill (Amanda Seyfried) had after she had escaped a kidnapper, about him coming back had a connection to the theory she had that the same kidnapper got her sister Molly (Emily Wickersham). That anxiety linked to some frustration when authorities didn't believe her story, because they thought she was just having aftermath of her own kidnapping. Jill finds out that the same kidnapper that got her got her sister. She goes to authorities, but they don't believe her story, so she goes out to save Molly herself. Jill intends on confronting the kidnapper. It's just like how kids want revenge against someone who has picked one of their best friends. And how that has ended in cyberbullying, school shootings, and suicide. That kind of thing, basically what happens when Jill goes out to rescue her sister. That mix of frustration, anger, and anxiety gets too much for Jill at points. To the extent where she doesn't want to be nice to other people. FYI: You may feel tension throughout the movie. It has a lot of suspense.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Gone
I just got back from seeing it. I thought it was really cool.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Ok for mature Tweens and above.
Pretry good,saw it last week,not that violent .Its your typical PG13 rated film.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
May 14, 2012
AGE
Ok for some tweens
i think it is ok for mature tweens. If you are a really mature 10 year old and can hadle violence and bad words i say give it a go.( my mother helped me write this)
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Summit Entertainment |
| Director: | Heitor Dhalia |
| Cast: | Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Wes Bentley |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 24, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and terror, some sexual material, brief language and drug references |
Review It
Video review
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
