Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Hellion is an intense drama about a family torn apart by tragedy. Upsetting scenes show a 13-year-old boy venting his anger and frustration through vandalism, as well as influencing his 10-year-old brother. There's also some disturbing gun violence and a shooting involving several young teens. Characters use strong language, including "f--k," and an adult character drinks heavily -- though the movie suggests that he's dealing with pain rather than suffering an addiction. There's some minor innuendo as some teen boys encounter a gang of bikini-wearing teen girls. Though the characters are young and the movie could inspire discussions with families, much of the material is just too mature for younger viewers.
Sexual
Content
Young teens reference a "naked magazine" and ogle several teen girls in bikinis. One kid makes a lewd comment, and the others rebuke him for it.
Violence
The movie climaxes with a horrifying incident involving young teens and a gun; the gun is fired, and one of the teens is shot. Young teens also vandalize a truck, smashing it with baseball bats and painting it; later, they encourage a younger boy to set fire to a pile of wooden pallets. A group of grown-ups encourages a 13-year-old boy to handle a gun.
Language
Language is strong but not constant; young teens are sometimes heard swearing. "F--k" is used.
Social
Behavior
The movie makes the point that families ought to stay together and help each other, though it demonstrates this idea in a negative way, by watching the family fall apart. Many of the characters behave poorly, but there are always consequences for their actions.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The father is dealing with his grief through drinking. Though it's not suggested that he's an alcoholic, he's definitely a problem drinker. A social worker comes to the house and finds two boys home alone in a kitchen littered with empty beer bottles.
