Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Surrogates pushes the limits of its PG-13 rating. Yes, it's set in a futuristic world and most of the violence and mayhem is directed at robot "surrogates," but the images are still disturbingly bloody and destructive because these surrogates are portrayed by (and look exactly like) humans. There are lots of shootings with direct hits at close range, bodies flying through the air, multiple crashes that leave many dead or severely wounded, beatings, burnings, and explosions. Scenes graphically depict the extermination of the human replicas. Strong language is fairly infrequent but includes "s--t"; there's also a good bit of drinking, as well as some futuristic drug use. Sexual activity is portrayed in only a few scenes, but it's shown as casual and self-indulgent and involves promiscuity (but no nudity).
Sexual
Content
Sexy dancing with lots of erotic groping and thrusting in a crowded club scene. A newly acquainted couple engages in passionate kissing and sexual foreplay just before they're shot to death while roughly embracing.
Violence
Several humans are killed violently with futuristic weapons. Frequent shootings (many at point-blank range) of "surrogates" who look human and are portrayed by humans. Dead bodies (also the surrogates) are seen falling to the ground en masse. Also lots of explosions, car crashes, bodies being "liquified," vicious beatings, helicopters crashing, car chases, people burning, heads being smashed, etc. Many images of bloody faces, bloody eyeballs, and human faces peeling to reveal machines beneath.
Language
Brief, infrequent strong language, including one use of "s--t," plus words like "kickass," "dick," "ass," "damn," "crap," and "oh my God."
Social
Behavior
The movie's basic message is that humankind is in great danger if human nature is sacrificed in favor of technological advancement. It suggests that isolating yourself and refusing to engage in the world will lead to passive self-destruction. The film also takes a harsh look at society's ideas of beauty and self worth. Each human operator creates a surrogate that conforms to the current popular notion of attractiveness and sex appeal, resulting in a society in which everyone is boringly young, thin, and gorgeous.
Consumerism
Prius is seen on screen.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
One main character is addicted to drugs, as evidenced by large quantities of pills at her bedside. Some heavy drinking/drunkenness by the hero. One scene depicts futuristic drug use -- a blue liquid is injected into the veins of a large group of surrogate partygoers, sending them into spasms of ecstasy and hysteria.