Scenes with domestic violence, including punching walls, flipping tables, violently pushing someone against a refrigerator, and more. Scene of a drunken car accident (Phil runs his truck into a tree). Hunting scenes with guns. Scenes of emotional violence, including hurtful, violent tantrums.
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Phil Robertson is well known as the personality behind Duck Dynasty and its related products.
Positive Messages
a lot
It's important to choose compassion and empathy even in hard circumstances. The importance of humility, gratitude, courage, and self-control are also in play, especially when it comes to overcoming addiction.
Positive Role Models
some
Phil is overcome in his adult life by alcoholism, self-loathing, and abusive tantrums, possibly due to trauma he faced in relation to his unstable mother. But compassion and empathy of others -- including his siblings, his wife Kay (Amelia Eve), his local pastor -- and compassion for himself allow him to grow into a better father and husband. Phil's humility and gratitude keep him grounded in his new, faith-driven life. Phil also learns how to control himself amid temptation to go back to his old habits. Even though Phil starts out rocky, he shows how someone can become a better person by confronting unhealthy habits and problematic coping skills.
Diverse Representations
a little
Main characters are White. Two supporting Black characters have a few lines: a Black woman to whom Phil sells fish (for her family's restaurant) and a man at a bar Phil frequents who gambles with Phil. Both characterizations are mostly benign, with a lean toward positive representation in the case of the woman. But women other than the main character's wife, Kay, are largely left out of the film. Kay does grow throughout her turbulent years with Phil while he's in the grip of alcoholism; when he kicks her and their children out of their home, she becomes more independent and self-sufficient. But she's also portrayed as unrealistically angelic, steadfast, and understanding, even when Phil is at his worst.
Parents need to know that The Blind is a faith-centered biopic about Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson (Aron von Andrian). Through a religious lens, it focuses on the idea of redemption and forgiveness. Mature content isn't constant but includes strong language ("damn," "s--t") and many scenes with or of drinking -- including alcohol addiction -- and smoking. There are scenes that could be considered domestic abuse, such as slamming walls, intimidation, flipping tables, and violent pushing. And some scenes depict hunting (the use of guns) and a violent but non-fatal car crash. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
This is a great movie for someone who has, is, or knows someone struggling through addiction. It has faith, redemption, and love carried throughout. It is good for kids, but it depends on what they can handle. There are some scary scenes depicting abuse. Overall, a phenomenal movie that I believe everyone should watch!
What's the Story?
THE BLIND is based on the life of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson (Aron von Andrian). It follows Robertson from childhood to adulthood, including his marriage to Kay (Amelia Eve). He must come to terms with his own turbulent childhood and his addiction to alcohol in order to regain himself, his family, and a renewed life.
This is a compelling drama about the personal struggles and redemption of the man whose duck calls led to the popular hit reality series Duck Dynasty. Fans of that show might have already heard about Robertson's past issues related to addiction and the trauma of growing up with an unstable mother, but if you're new to his story, The Blind tells it with panache. The acting grabs you, especially as Robertson becomes more controlled by his dependency and self-loathing. As with any hero's journey, he must face his truest test -- himself -- to be able to come back from the brink.
Robertson has said that being baptized and finding God saved him from his various demons. This leads to proselytizing in the film that's both subtle and overt -- especially at the end, when the real Robertson, a Bible in his lap, talks to the camera about his personal journey, equating it to being in the grips of the devil, only to be saved by Jesus. If you're already religious or spiritual, you might feel comforted or recognize your own personal understanding of God in Robertson's words. But if you're not one for organized religion (or just don't like watching media that's intended as a preaching tool), The Blind might not be the best movie for you. Religion aside, however, The Blind can offer insight into the psychology that allows people like Robertson to feel renewed within the embrace of organized religion, especially if the message they find there helps them save themselves and their family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how religion is used in The Blind. Is this a faith-based film? Why, or why not?
How is Phil's dependency on alcohol depicted? Does it feel truthful? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
How is Kay characterized? Is her character realistic, or does she feel idealized?
How did Phil's childhood experiences affect his adult life? How does the film depict the way that people can grow from their prior experiences?
How accurate do you think the movie is to the facts of Phil's life? Why might filmmakers choose to adjust real events when making a movie based on real events?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
