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Reel World Reality A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2012.012  (2011), PG-13 [R-13*] (84.85min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): Morgan Creek, James G. Robinson Distribution (US): Universal Studios Director(s): Jim Sheridan Producer(s): James G. Rosinson, David Robinson, Daniel Bobker, Ehren Kruger, Rick Nicita, Mike Drake Written by: David Loucka Cinematography/Camera: Caleb Deschannel Music: Joh Debney Film Editing: Glen Scantlebury, Barbara Tulliver Casting: Avy Kaufman Production Design: Carol Spier Art Direction: Elinor Galbraith Viewed on Universal Studios Home Entertainment DVD Shortly after the beginning of the show Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quits his editor job at GPH Publishers in NYC to go home to New Ashford, Connecticut to spend more time with his family and to write a book. Wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and daughters, seven year old Trish (Taylor Geare) and five year old Dee Dee (Claire Geare) were ecstatic that dad was coming home to stay. He had spent so much time on his job. Will just bought a house in New Ashford that, unbeknownst to Will, was five years ago home to a man named Peter Ward (Daniel Craig) who was accused of shooting to death his wife, Elizabeth (Rachel Weisz) and two little girls, seven year old Beatrice (Taylor Geare) and five year old Katherine (Claire Geare) in that house. The whole town of New Ashford believes the surviving husband, Peter Ward to be the murderer. The setting is idyllic and paradisiacal. Everything is as one might hope of a fun, happy, adoring ... and obedient ... patriarchal "everything's okay, daddy's here" family. All seems too good to be real. As we discover, it is ... too good to be real. Soon Will discovers he is entwined in some way with the past of the house ... and with Peter Ward. His only reliable connection is Ann Patterson (Naomi Watts) from across the street. Ann knew Peter and the rest of the Ward family. Elizabeth was Ann's best friend. Ann's ex-husband Jack (Marton Csokas) soon plays a key role in Will's investigations into the past. Boyce (Elias Koteas) helps Jack in his nefarious scheme. And Ann's daughter, Chloe (Rachel Fox) provides key support to the Will Atenton profile. By the way, this is not a "teen flick" since the teens in it do not cuss more than the adults nor do any teens get in bed with each other or anyone else nor do any of them get drunk. But the show is beyond any shadow of doubt a R-13. With a final score of 30 out of 100 while R-rated features in the comparative baseline database earned final scores of 54 and below out of 100 ... well, you do the math. Of the six CAP content investigation areas (W, I, S, D, O and M), only one of them (S - Sexual Immorality) found content to be PG-13 equivalent. Drugs/Alcohol (D) found content to earn a PG-equivalent area score but all of the remaining four content investigation areas found content to generate R-equivalent scores. Not a "teen flick?" Maybe it is after all. A gaggle of intrusive teens (excluding Chloe) used profanity three times in their one minute and two seconds of screen time. Adults used profanity ten times in their 84.85 minutes of screen time. Three times in 1.05 minutes (a ratio of 2.86) is a lot higher density than ten times in 84.85 minutes (a ratio of 0.118). Hollywood must think teens cannot speak without using profanity. Maybe many teens choose to speak profanity profusely but maybe it is because of films like this one that portray teens as cuss freaks. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 The violence content of this film is quite intense at times, particularly as Jack pumps two bullets into Boyce that do not kill Boyce then a third bullet that does kill him as Boyce pours an accelerant that incinerates Jack. This is an example of exactly what God warns us in Proverb 16:29. He warns that violence can be "contagious": that it can lead one into the way that is not good. Even man has echoed God by four professional public health agencies jointly warning that violence in and as entertainment can, among other things, lead the viewer, especially the young, to real life violence and can lead one to believe violence is an acceptable means of settling conflict. This is just one example of the violence in this film of which there are too many to even summarize in this discussion. The listing in the Findings section provides an accounting of all the violence found. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Ten times profanity is used, one of which is the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] But that is not nearly all of the impudent content. Some of the items include a hateful exchange, teens trespassing, teen arrogance toward the property owner, facial piercing, punk dress and attire, a teen running off after mother's command to return, lying and more. A lifestyle of arrogance and rebellion will exact a heavy price unless the arrogant and rebellious ones are forgiven and humble themselves before the One who spent three days in Hell so we would not have to spend one moment there.. [Isa. 13:11] And God warns us of arrogance in many places. [Jer. 6:15, Prov. 6:16 - 19, Isa. 2:17, Mal. 4:1] Sexual Immorality (S) - 57 out of 100 As with most PG-13 films, someone is in bed with someone, just not teens as is typical of PG-13s. The script may have had Will and Libby married but Craig and Wiesz are not. For most healthy men, to see his wife straddle her crotch on another man's crotch, even in underwear, would be bad. Note that "acting" does not excuse sin. Besides this, Craig apparently likes to expose his below navel skin. Repeatedly. No, it is not up to me whether such behavior onscreen is sinful. I did not write the Rules. The One who spent three says in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there did. He is entitled to decide what is sinful. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 80 out of 100 Atypical of most PG-13 movies is the absence of alcohol. There was none I could find in Dream house. There was, however, one instance of smoking. The most severe loss of points was due to the use of chloroform to drug two people into submission. Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 God's name was abused 19 times through the course of the 84.85 minutes of this film (none of them by teens). Three of the abuses of His name were with the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] But the heaviest presence of unholy content were the frequent revenants. A revenant is one who has supposedly returned from the dead. According to the story, Libby, Trish and Dee Dee were murdered and buried. Will spent most of the story living with them and talking to them and making out with the Libby revenant. We are not to communicate with the dead. [Deut. 18:10-12] Murder/Suicide (M) - 41 out of 100 There are five murders portrayed in this film: three adults and two little girls. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE --> Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume the acts of violence are acceptable behavior. --> Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs. --> Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behavior and a mistrust of others. --> Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed. Further, God speaks darkly of violence 56 times in the Old and New Testament of the KJV.] o Col. 3:8 But now ye also put off [rid yourself of] all these; anger, wrath, malice [kakia: ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, evil, trouble, not ashamed to break laws, etc.], blasphemy [blasphemia: impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty], filthy communication [aischrologia:foul speaking, low and obscene speech] out of your mouth. As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) -Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 57 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 80 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 41 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
