Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that The Homesman is a Western (based on a novel by Glendon Swarthout) with disturbing material, mostly related to three frontier women who go insane. They scream, thrash, and moan, and one cuts herself with a needle. One throws a baby away in an outhouse, and other dead babies are also shown. Violence includes forced marital sex, some fighting (with a little blood), drawn guns, and a body hanging from a tree. Women are shown topless, and there's a fairly strong sex scene. Language includes "s--t," "son of a bitch," and "goddamn." A character sometimes drinks whisky and is shown drunk in the final scene. The movie's mature material and Western setting may not put it at the top of teens' must-see list, but adventurous viewers will find it rewarding.
Sexual
Content
Main female character is shown topless. Sex scene that feels very graphic, even though little nudity is shown. Three insane women are occasionally topless (while bathing, etc. Some innuendo.
Violence
A baby is thrown away in an outhouse; other dead babies are shown. Situations involving three insane women are generally disturbing (screaming, thrashing, etc.). Guns are drawn. Characters fight; some blood is shown. A woman cuts herself with a needle. Characters die. A dead body is shown hanging from a tree. A man sets fire to a building. Disturbing scenes of forced sex between husband and wife, both mainly clothed.
Language
Mainly "son of a bitch" and "goddamn. Also "s--t" and "bastard."
Social
Behavior
Encourages tolerance and empathy toward the mentally ill; as the movie begins, these misfit characters are shown as scary and alien, but as it goes on, they become more human. Understanding and listening can go a long way. But also, treating intolerance with intolerance isn't a good choice.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The main male character asks for whisky to be packed for a journey but is only seen drinking on a few occasions. He's drunk and bawdy during the movie's final scene.
