Witness

1985 R 1h 52m DVD

Witness

1985 R 1h 52m DVD
  • Overview
  • Details
Detective John Book goes undercover in an Amish community to protect a boy who witnessed a murder. Once inside, Block must adjust to major culture shock while cautiously romancing the boy's mother.
Cast
Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Josef Sommer, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubes, Alexander Godunov, Danny Glover, Brent Jennings, Patti LuPone, Angus MacInnes, Frederick Rolf, Viggo Mortensen
Director
Peter Weir
Format
DVD
Screen
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Subtitles
None
CC
Yes
Audio
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating
R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
age 15+
Common Sense rating OK for kids 15+
age 15+

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Witness has just a couple scenes of intense violence, including a murder where the victim's throat is cut while a young boy watches. There is also some sexual tension between a man and woman with an extended scene of the woman bathing where her breasts are visible. A bit of strong language, including "f--k," pops up during confrontations between the clearly distinguished "good" and "bad" guys.

Sexual Content

A cop and a single mother flirt and kiss. In one scene he watches her bathe, with her breasts visible during a long shot brimming with sexual tension, but it doesn't go any further.

Violence

There are just a few violent scenes, but they're pretty intense. A young boy witnesses a murder, and after the thugs slit the victim's throat in a public bathroom, they decide to check on every stall and almost discover the terrified witness. Later, the murderers hunt the boy to a farm, where he's being protected by a police officer who takes on the gang even though he's unarmed, and finds a way to pick them off one by one. In another scene, a group of local toughs intimidate several Amish farmers who are devoted to their nonviolent beliefs. The punks get a big surprise from someone who looks like the other Amish, but definitely doesn't share their views on confrontations.

Language

Occasional swearing, including "a--hole," "Goddamn," and "f--k."

Social Behavior

Honesty is always best, but it's not always easy. There's an appreciation for the slower life the Amish lead, though the ultimate message is that violence is necessary in certain circumstances.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Not applicable

  • Age appropriate
  • Not an issue
  • Depends on your child and your family
  • Parents strongly cautioned
  • Not appropriate for kids of the age

This information for parents is provided by Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving kids' media lives.

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