Nymphomaniac: Vol. II
Here's what we found in Nymphomaniac: Vol. II. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Nymphomaniac: Vol. II
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) is an intensely explicit and psychologically challenging erotic drama that continues the story of Joe, a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac. The film delves into her adult life, marked by a loss of sexual sensation, her subsequent desperate attempts to regain pleasure through increasingly extreme and dangerous encounters, and the profound impact of her addiction on her life and relationships. It explores themes of sexual obsession, control, the nature of desire, and societal perceptions of female sexuality, set against the backdrop of her ongoing narrative to Seligman, a benevolent bachelor.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The film explicitly features a self-identified asexual character, Seligman, who claims to be a virgin. Additionally, the protagonist, Joe, engages in an exploitative lesbian relationship with her young protégé, P, highlighting a range of sexual and gender identities within the narrative and raising concerns about age dynamics and power imbalances.
1. Seligman explicitly states, 'I consider myself asexual' and a virgin, providing a prominent representation of asexuality in a major film. 2. Joe forms a sexual relationship with P (Mia Goth), her young protégé, after P turns 18. This is depicted as a 'lesbian relationship' that is also described as 'exploitative' due to the power dynamic.
Violence
Volume II contains graphic and disturbing violence, escalating from sadomasochistic practices to brutal physical assaults and an attempted murder. Joe's journey involves both self-inflicted pain and becoming a victim of severe physical abuse, reflecting the darker consequences of her lifestyle.
Romance and Sexual Content
The film is fundamentally driven by explicit and graphic sexual content, depicting a wide array of sexual acts and full nudity. It centers on Joe's sex addiction, her inability to orgasm, and her pursuit of increasingly extreme sexual encounters, including sadomasochism, and an unsettling scene involving pedophilia apologism and a sexual act with a self-identified repressed pedophile.
Profanity
The film features strong and frequent profanity throughout, consistent with its mature and often harsh themes. While specific quotes are not always isolated in reviews, the overall tone and content warnings from sources indicate prevalent use of offensive language.
Scary & Intense Content
Volume II is characterized by its intensely disturbing and psychologically harrowing content. The film delves into the brutal reality of addiction, graphic BDSM, severe physical violence, and life-threatening situations, creating a consistently tense and often horrifying viewing experience. The ending includes an attempted rape and murder.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Joe's character is defined by profound disrespect for societal norms, familial responsibilities, and conventional morality. Her rebellion is central to the plot, as she actively disregards her role as a mother, insults authority figures, and engages in criminal activities, openly embracing her 'nymphomania' despite its destructive consequences.
Would these 6 concerns matter to your family?
Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
Strictly 18+. The film is Not Rated in the US but carries descriptors like "Explicit material & content that may disturb" and an 18 rating in the UK. It features graphic sexual acts, nudity, violence, strong language, and highly controversial themes, making it unsuitable for minors and potentially disturbing for many adults.
Good to Know
The film exists in both a theatrical cut (around 4 hours across two volumes) and an extended director's cut (around 5.5 hours total), with the director's cut featuring more explicit scenes and restored dialogue, including a significant abortion scene. The Director's Cut is considered by some to be more vital for understanding Joe's psychology and the film's full thematic depth. The film's ending is widely considered problematic and controversial, undermining previous character development and causing strong negative reactions among critics and viewers.
What are you watching next?
Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.
No credit card required — join hundreds of families