I’m all for introducing children to horror, but it needs to be done in the right way. Sinners, the latest movie with Michael B. Jordan in the lead (twice!), is not the right way to do it. This is one of those horrors that has a deep psychological element to it.
The horror flick follows two twin brothers who are simply trying to leave their troubled lives behind. That means heading back to their Mississippi hometown in an attempt to start again. There’s nothing wrong with returning, but there’s an issue with what they’re returning to. There’s a greater evil there to welcome them back.
This is one of those horrors that plays more psychologically rather than physically, and I think that’s the scariest type of horror. However, there is also a gore element that you’ll want to keep in mind.
Sinners age rating: Explaining the R rating
The official age rating for the movie is R in the United States, and I’d say that it deserves it. However, I will note that it’s 14A in Canada, because with the horror being psychological, there’s not as much on the screen that warrants an R rating.
Sex & nudity: There are a couple of sex scenes in the movie, with a few moments of thrusting. There are certain elements that are kept tasteful, but it is easy to tell what’s going on, and this is something that will make children uncomfortable to watch, especially with parents around.
Violence & gore: There are some severe moments of violence and gore, even though the horror is more psychological than physical. Stabbings and shootings are common occurrences throughout, but there is one scene that will stand out more than others. A man smashes a broken bottle and uses that to take his own life, which is visibly shown on the screen.
Language: The F-bomb is dropped multiple times throughout the movie. There are also multiple uses of the N-word, which is going to bring up questions — and while I fully support those discussions, they need to be done at the right time and in the right way rather than at the same time as dealing with the psychological horror element of Sinners. The S-word, D-word, and other strong words are also used throughout the movie.
Alcohol & drugs: This is one area of the makeup of Sinners that is on the milder side. While there is some drinking and tobacco use, it’s not done gratuitously or continuously. However, there is a scene where a man is passed out drunk.
Overall verdict: Who is Sinners appropriate for?
Overall, I’m on the side of the United States rather than Canada with this age rating. While I’m all for introducing children to horror, Sinners is not the movie to do it with. It’s not about the level of gore, though. This movie is filled with horror that runs deep psychologically and will leave you thinking about it for days.
There will be a lot of conversations to have with children afterward if you watch it with them. It’s best to wait for them to get a little older. Maybe some older teens could handle it, but this is created with adults in mind.
Sinners is now available to watch in theaters.