Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that although The Skeleton Twins stars two actors best known for their comedic talents (Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig), it's an insightful, moving, mature drama that dissects and distils the magic and mayhem of sibling relationships -- especially those who grew up in a dysfunctional and difficult household. Expect plenty of intense scenes that show characters attempting suicide (in one case, a man gets into a tub with water that slowly turns red), lots of swearing (including "f--k" and more), simulated sex (a man and a woman are shown coupling up against a wall, and two men wake up on the morning after their own encounter), drinking (sometimes to destructive inebriation), and a complex storyline involving an adult who was molested and taken advantage of by a teacher but still wants contact with that person.
Sexual
Content
A man and a woman are shown kissing passionately and, later, up against a wall, presumably having sex, though no sensitive body parts are shown. There's an open discussion about sex. Two men are shown in bed on what appears to be the morning after they slept together; one is getting dressed, and the other is still under covers, shoulders and chest bared. A man talks in raw terms about how he needs sex.
Violence
Viewers don't see Milo cut himself in the beginning, but it's implied, and the sight of water turning blood-red is disturbing. Later, characters are shown teetering on the edge of a building, as if about to jump, and trying other means of killing themselves, including drowning. One character was molested by a teacher in high school, and this is discussed with much pain, anger, and confusion. Milo and Maggie get into a brutal shouting match.
Language
Pretty salty, including "a---hole," "damn," "c--k," "bulls--t," "p---y," and "f--k." Also, the word "retarded" is used pejoratively. A child flashes his mom the finger.
Social
Behavior
Even the darkest of nights leads to a brighter morning: Both main characters are sometimes felled by deep pain that comes from a very troubled childhood, but their will sustains them. Also, when you think you can't turn to anyone at all, there's always family -- at least in their case.
Consumerism
An Apple computer is seen, as is an iPhone. Also, Coors beer.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Adults drink beer and hard liquor (sometimes to the point of destructive inebriation) and get high on nitrous.
