Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Edge of Darkness is an extremely convoluted cop/conspiracy thriller that's very heavy on violence, with a large pile of bloody corpses, plenty of guns, shootouts, fights, chases, and crashes. Characters use harsh language, with plenty of "f--k" and "s--t." Despite a strong performance by star Mel Gibson, the movie has a sour, hopeless tone. Characters who do the right thing are brutally punished, and Gibson's character -- the ostensible hero -- acts recklessly and violently. The film eventually sinks to a revenge finale with no positive lessons to take away.
Sexual
Content
The hero and his adult daughter have a very brief conversation about the possibility of her being pregnant (and whether she has a boyfriend). The hero accuses another man of wanting to have sex with his daughter.
Violence
A young woman is blasted across a front porch with a shotgun, creating several holes in her torso and a lot of blood (it soaks through a white rug). Viewers see several more dead bodies, complete with bloody, gory wounds, and disturbing photographs of still more dead bodies. (The hero is personally responsible for at least three.) Additionally there's lots of guns and gunfire, car crashes, and one knife attack.
Language
Multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t" in all their various forms, plus at least one use of "hell," "piss," "asshole," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation).
Social
Behavior
Nothing is learned, no good comes of anyone's actions, and things like bravery and trust eventually fall by the wayside. The main character quickly learns that he can't even trust the police in his own department. Breaking the rules seems to be his only answer; recklessness and revenge seem to be the ultimate motivators.
Consumerism
The hero types on a Sony VAIO laptop, and his daughter arrives on Amtrak. Crown Royal Whisky is mentioned once and shown later.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The main character no longer drinks, but he keeps a bottle of whisky, which he pours for a visitor. Later, viewers see the same visitor drinking wine. In another scene, an upset young man sits down with a six-pack of beer and begins drinking vigorously.
