Sling Blade (1996) Poster

(1996)

Parents Guide

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Certification

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MPAA Rated R for strong language, including descriptions of violent and sexual behavior
Certification

Sex & Nudity

  • A man enters a room with a hammer in his hand and find a couple sleeping together in bed.
  • No nudity or sex is shown in the film, just implied.
  • A man in a mental hospital describes picking up a prostitute and hoping that she has "a big bush." He discovers the prostitute is a man when he sees his male private parts.
  • The man states that he likes hairy arms because it means a big bush and he likes a big bush. He describes she has a thin, crooked, uncircumcised penis. He then says he wanted his money back.
  • A man describes finding his mother and a neighbor having sex and kills them. It is clear throughout the film that discussion of sex makes the protagonist uncomfortable, which reminds the viewer of his discovery of his mother in the act.
  • He describes the older teenager boy as laying on top of his mother having his way with her. He reveals she didn't mind it.
  • Doyle makes some comments about Linda and Vaughan.

Violence & Gore

  • Another man is also killed offscreen with two strikes to the head.
  • Doyle is extremely abusive when he gets drunk, especially in one scene. He pushes Frank's mother and Frank throws cans and books at him.
  • No killing is ever shown, but is deeply described and can be disturbing to hear.
  • Doyle throws a drunken fit in one scene.

Profanity

  • Strong language, mostly from an antagonist. 22 uses of "fuck", 13 uses of "ass", 12 uses of "shit", 7 uses of "son of bitch", 3 uses of "tits", 3 uses of "prick", 2 uses of "pussy", and 1 use of "cocksucker." Also 19 instances of "damn" (11 with "God") and 8 uses of "hell".
  • The language is probably the only reason this film is rated R.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

  • One character is an alcoholic. He is seen intoxicated in many scenes and often acts verbally and physically abusive while under the influence.
  • There is casual drinking and smoking.
  • A couple of characters smoke cigarettes and Mr. Woolridge smokes a tobacco pipe.
  • Doyle is seen drinking either beer or liquor everytime he is shown. His friends all drink in the scene where they come over.

Frightening & Intense Scenes

  • In one scene a man describes burying his prematurely born brother alive and also mentions he's thought of killing himself.
  • The opening monologue contains intense discussion of the protagonist's personal history leading up to the murder of his mother and her lover. In several scenes a man threatens other characters. A man is murdered offscreen.

Spoilers

The Parents Guide items below may give away important plot points.

Violence & Gore

  • A man describes murdering his mother and her lover with a sling blade. The man spends time sharpening a lawnmower blade and then kills a man with it by striking him on the head. The killing occurs offscreen.

See also

Taglines | Plot Summary | Synopsis | Plot Keywords


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