Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that while there's no sex in this film, there's considerable fist fighting, violence, and death. Several characters, including main characters, are shot, crushed, and beaten bloody. There's also considerable sexual innuendo about Joseph's virility and machismo. Characters are defined by their class and ethnicity and often exploited. There's also a subtext of the westward expansion in which the government stole land from Native Americans.

Sexual Content

Shannon and Joseph kiss and Joseph imagines disrobing her, but there's no sex. Lots of sexual innuendo, including comments about men having sex with goats and men leaving women "pulling up [their] knickers." Joseph appears naked in a bed with only a bowl over his genitals. Shannon peeks under it twice. Shannon and Joseph live in a whorehouse.

Violence

Considerable violence, including several fistfights, a few riots, and several boxing matches where contestants, including Joseph, end up bloodied. Joseph's father dies after being hit. Joseph attempts several times to shoot Mr. Christie. Shannon stabs Joseph in the thigh with a pitchfork. Shannon gets shot in the shoulder. There are several scenes of men being trampled by horses and of covered wagons overturning. Joseph gets severely injured by a horse. A man is shot and killed at point-blank range. Joseph punches his horse.

Language

Some salty language, including "hell," "bastard," "ass," "son of a bitch," "pissing," "tits," and "goddamn."

Social Behavior

There's talk of racism, and Shannon and her family treat Joseph as a second-class citizen because he's poor. People exploit both Shannon and Joseph, and Shannon gets harassed by her boss. When they're homeless, Shannon and Joseph break into a house for warmth.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Considerable drinking, and Joseph and Shannon are both shown very drunk at different points.