Damaged 2024 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?

Is Damaged 2024 OK for kids? Is Damaged 2024 safe for kids? Read the Damaged 2024 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Lionsgate 2024 crime thriller Damaged film, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Cassel. No spoilers! #DamagedMovie May contain commissioned links.

Parents Guide Damaged 2024 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?

Call me weird but I’m the kind of girl that loves CSI crime shows but hates crime thriller movies. But when I heard that Samuel L. Jackson was on the celebrity list for this Lionsgate film (and let’s be honest – after being ‘assigned’ to cover this film by Common Sense Media) – I figured I’d add intense serial killer entertainment to the repertoire.

But don’t get too comfy. This Disney “happily ever after” kids’ movie lover isn’t going to stick around too long in this genre – because I may have just doomed myself to nightmares for the next 15 years. But if you have an older kid who’s really into true crime and crime thriller movies – this is a special (?) Damaged 2024 review treat just for you.

In this Damaged 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full rated R age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Damaged parents guide to the new Lionsgate crime thriller film. A no-spoiler parent review of Damaged 2024, does Samuel L Jackson deliver an intense and memorable performance? Or are we looking at another gross but predictable serial killer film?

The Visuals

Visually Damaged 2024 plays out like a lower budget Lionsgate film. It’s not even visually present on the Lionsgate film homepage – just saying. While the camera movements and effects aren’t overly impressive or memorable – the CGI and special effect enhancements on the crime scenes do give an eerie and haunting look that visually stays with you – long after the credits roll.

Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, Damaged 2024 has no scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note. However, there are climactic scenes towards the end of the film with dizzying, fast spinning, and shaky camera movements that could be nausea inducing for some.

The Story

This all-new Lionsgate 2024 crime thriller film is directed by Terry McDonough (“Breaking Bad“) and is written by Koji Steven Sakai (“The Commando“), Gianni Capaldi (“Blood of Redemption“), and Paul Aniello (“It’s Not Over“). 2024 Damaged stars Samuel L. Jackson (“The Marvels“) as Dan Lawson, Gianni Capaldi as Glen Boyd, Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan“) as Bravo, along with Laura Haddock (“Guardians of the Galaxy“) and John Hannah (“Four Weddings and a Funeral“).

The story follows two detectives each with two tortured pasts. Their paths cross after a horrific killing spree in Scotland mysteriously follows the same serial killer pattern from Chicago five years prior. This broken co-detective pair must team up along with an old friend Walker Bravo to put a stop to these sadistic serial killings before the next victim is claimed. Sounds like a dark twist on the usual CSI genre right? That’s when the storyline gets “quote on quote” murdered. (Yes, all of the puns)

Despite having two “damaged” detectives on the case – there’s a lack of relatability and depth to the character building especially the secondary characters. With more focus on the gruesome deaths and crime scene aftermath (see below for full R-rated violence analysis), the story falls flat despite having enough momentum to keep the entertainment for the audience. Following the usual serial killer tropes, the storyline ended up being predictable and anticlimactic – even for a CSI crime thriller novice like myself.

And we haven’t even dug into the R age rating yet for kids.

Damaged 2024 R Rating Explained

Is Damaged 2024 safe for kids? A Samuel L. Jackson crime thriller that’s rated R? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.

PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.

Why is Damaged 2024 rated R? In this Damaged 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Challengers movie is rated R for “violence, grisly images throughout, language, and brief sexual content.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Damaged 2024 is kid friendly. Is Damaged 2024 too scary for kids? Is Damaged 2024 for kids? Let’s breakdown that R age rating in this Damaged 2024 parents guide.

Violence/Suspense. Damaged 2024 is crime thriller about a serial killer. Enough said. Expect lots gruesome killings – along with disturbing aftermath crime scenes with lots of gore, blood (including blood spurts, blood pools, and open wounds) and severed/manipulated body parts including limbs and head. Hence the “grisly images throughout.”

Surprisingly the actual murders themselves are toned down when compared to suspense horror crime thriller movies – with actions being blurred or off-camera for the most part. Women are seen been dragged across the floor and there are disturbing screams and uncomfortable sounds. Gunshots, gunshot wounds, and minimal punching kicking and hand-to-hand combat also occur, and there are a variety of weapons including handguns, knives, and saws.

As expected peril, intense scenes, and suspense are all included in this thriller. However, even for this scared-y cat, they were mostly letdowns. It was like the thriller forgot the thrills? But honestly with everything else overloading my senses – I was completely OK with this!

Adult Themes. Alcohol consumption is a prominent theme in Damaged 2024 – including liquor, beer, and wine consumption. Social drinking and drinking in excess occurs throughout – characters staggering and stumbling their steps, slurring their words, and acting “drunk” and/or “tipsy” at times with multiple visuals of numerous empty mini liquor bottles in frame. Drinking also occurs at home in bars and even one scene of drinking before getting into a car and driving. No smoking or drugs in this film.

Religious undertones occur throughout the film. There are multiple religious, cult, pagan, and satanic references – including symbolism and dark religion worship practices. There is also one verbal reference to the “KKK” and being “too racist.”

Does Damaged 2024 have sexual content? Is there sexual innuendo? “Brief sexual content” refers to one scene of a man unzipping his pants and presumably giving himself pleasure (no nudity and not shown on camera) with shaking body movements and noises. There is also another scene of a man unzipping his pants and peeing on a car (also implied with no nudity shown). Characters hold hands, kiss, hug, and flirt – but there are no sex scenes in Damaged. There is one scene of a woman’s torso with underwear on – there are also scenes of women pole dancing at a bar (but clothed).

Sexual innuendo verbal references in Damaged 2024 includes discussions about affairs and inferences to being “unfaithful” in a relationship.

Language. Does Damaged 2024 have strong language? Foul language phrases and swear words in the new 2024 Damaged movie include: 8 “f*ck,” 1 “b!tch,” 1 “bullsh!t,” and 3 “sh!t.”

Milder bad language phrases and insults in Damaged 2024 include: “piss off,” “bloody,” “geeze,” “devil,” “satanic,” “anti-Christ,” “Christ,” and “oh my g-d.”

Damaged 2024 Age Rating for Kids

The Overall

This movie may be “damaged” in more ways than one. While the idea of having co-detectives with “baggage” as leads in this 2024 crime thriller has potential, Damaged falls short in multiple areas despite having the talented Samuel L. Jackson on board. It’s a predictable storyline with the usual serial killer tropes, even I (the person who despises the suspense thriller genre) could predict how the plot was going to play out in the end. But that’s not even the worst of it.

The characters are lacking depth and relatability despite having tortured pasts – and the thriller portion is missing the thrills with anticlimactic suspense and an even more anticlimactic ending. But then again….maybe Lionsgate go the title of this film right. Damaged may be the perfect word to describe this anticlimactic crime thriller.

Follow Damaged 2024 on social media:

• Website: https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/damaged
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lionsgate/
• Twitter (“X”): https://twitter.com/Lionsgate
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lionsgate
• #DamagedMovie

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Damaged, the all-new 2024 movie from Lionsgate is coming to select theaters and will be streaming on digital and video on demand starting Friday April 12, 2024. Will your family be watching?

I was invited to screen the all-new 2024 Lionsgate Damaged film in exchange for this Damaged 2024 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Lionsgate. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie reviews, television updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment, and behind-the-scenes info!