Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that although this heavy drama stars many actors and actresses popular with tweens and teens -- including Chace Crawford and Emma Roberts -- it's too graphic and mature for younger viewers (even fans of Crawford's Gossip Girl are likely to find some of the behavior depicted here shocking). Teens are shown drinking and doing drugs, exchanging sex for drugs and other favors, and acting out in very violent ways. There are also many references to sex acts, some scenes in which teen characters are scantily clad and in the middle of intimate acts, and heaps of swearing.

Sexual Content

Discussions about various sex acts. A teen's porno stash is revealed. Couples grope and make out (mostly in darkened rooms). Girls take photos of each other in lingerie. One character offers her virginity in exchange for drugs; her partner's behind is fleetingly revealed as they undress. Boys talk about how to "get laid."

Violence

A teenager is shot during a drug deal gone awry, as is a witness. A rampage ends bloodily. A disturbed character punches walls and threatens his brother with a sword. Teens talk trash at a basketball court, and the tiff escalates into a fistfight.

Language

Frequent use of everything from "goddammit" to "s--t" to "f--k."

Social Behavior

The movie presents a pretty bleak portrait of teen life -- everyone (from kids to parents, A students to dropouts) is messed up. But there is also a sense that reliance on substances is a dangerous game.

Consumerism

Lots of brand name-dropping, including Marc Jacobs and various restaurants. Many top private schools are also mentioned, including Dalton, Hotchkiss, Andover, Chapin, and Collegiate.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Teens drink a lot, everything from beer to hard liquor. A character deals weed and is often shown selling it; his customers are often shown smoking it. Another drug, the titular Twelve, makes its rounds. Lots of references to weed. Discussions about prescription drugs.