The Flash
The Flash is a DC Universe action-adventure film centered on Barry Allen, also known as The Flash, who uses his superhuman speed to travel back in time to prevent his mother's murder and clear his father's name. This attempt inadvertently creates an alternate reality where General Zod threatens global annihilation, forcing Barry to team up with a younger version of himself, a different Batman, and Supergirl to save their world. The film blends zany antics and spectacular action sequences with themes of loss, grief, and acceptance. Targeted primarily at teenagers and adults, the movie carries a PG-13 rating due to its intense violence, strong language, and some suggestive content and partial nudity.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe Flash contains frequent and intense sequences of violence, including large-scale battles, graphic injuries, and multiple deaths. The action involves superpower-fueled fights, gunplay, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat, with some scenes depicting explicit harm and implied mass casualties.
Examples include cars smashing in a high-speed chase, a collapsing hospital with people and babies falling from windows, and an alien army attacking countless soldiers. More graphic instances feature a character slitting a man's throat, Barry being electrocuted and appearing to be on fire, another character being repeatedly stabbed in the stomach, and Batman bleeding profusely before dying. A particularly dark scene shows an evil alternate version of Barry trapping and stabbing the younger Barry through the chest, leading to his death.
Profanity
HighThe Flash features strong language throughout, including multiple uses of offensive curse words and the frequent abuse of God's name. This language is present in both intense and casual contexts.
The film contains at least one instance of the 'f-word'. There are numerous uses of 'sh*t' (reported as at least 15-17 times), along with other expletives such as 'd!ck,' 'hell,' 'a**hole,' 'balls,' and 'scrotum'. Additionally, God's name is used as an expletive on several occasions, including 'oh my g-d' and 'Jesus.'
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe Flash features numerous scary and intense scenes, including peril, graphic violence, and disturbing imagery that could be frightening for younger viewers. The emotional stakes of the plot also contribute to the overall intensity.
Disturbing scenes include a collapsing hospital where a nurse and babies are flung from broken windows, falling in slow motion, which some found morbid despite the Flash eventually saving them. An evil, distorted version of Barry Allen is portrayed as a creepy and destructive character, trapping the original Barry in a ball of lightning and graphically stabbing the younger Barry, who then dies. The film also contains frequent explosions, high-speed crashes, and life-threatening situations for central characters, including graphic electrocution and a character being sliced in the face with a knife.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile the characters within 'The Flash' movie do not explicitly declare LGBTQ+ identities or engage in same-sex relationships, the film's lead actor, Ezra Miller, identifies as queer and non-binary. Some reviewers have discussed how Miller's portrayal of Barry Allen may convey 'non-binary vibes' and how the casting of openly queer actress Kiersey Clemons as Iris West lends a 'welcome sense of queerness' to their romantic pairing, even without explicit in-film canonization of LGBTQ+ themes for the characters themselves.
The film's lead, Barry Allen (The Flash), is portrayed by Ezra Miller, an actor who identifies as queer and non-binary. Additionally, Kiersey Clemons, an openly queer actress, plays Barry's love interest, Iris West, which some interpretations suggest adds a 'sense of queerness' to their dynamic.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe movie includes partial non-sexual nudity, suggestive dialogue, and implied sexual activity. These elements are often played for comedic effect or are briefly present, but they contribute to a level of mature content beyond a younger audience.
There are instances of partial nudity, such as Barry Allen running naked with his backside and torso exposed (genitals covered by hands or objects), which occurs multiple times for comedic purposes. Other examples include a female character shown wearing a bra after getting out of bed with her boyfriend, and a male character lounging on a sofa in his underwear, with a focus on his crotch. Sexual references include Barry confessing, 'I know what sex is but I haven't experienced it,' and comments about a piece of technology looking like a 'big, cyber scrotum.'
Substance Use
MediumThe movie includes instances of alcohol consumption by adult characters and references to drugs, though no explicit drug use is shown. One character is depicted in a state of apparent heavy intoxication.
Adult characters are seen drinking alcohol, including brief scenes of sipping wine, holding beer bottles, and one instance of a liquor shot being consumed. A superhero character is shown in a 'drunken stupor,' stumbling and falling face down into a puddle. There are verbal references to 'drugging' and being 'drugged' multiple times, and two instances of a moment being described as 'trippy.' There is also a brief, indirect reference to psilocybin mushrooms, though they are not seen or used.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe core plot of The Flash revolves around Barry Allen's rebellious act of defying warnings from his mentor, Batman, about the severe consequences of altering past events. This defiance drives the entire narrative, showcasing a persistent disregard for established wisdom.
Barry Allen chooses to ignore Batman's explicit warnings against tampering with time, stating, 'You could destroy everything.' Barry's repeated attempts to change his past, despite knowing the potential catastrophic outcomes, exemplify significant defiance. This rebellious pursuit to undo personal tragedy, despite the severe risks to the timeline and wider universe, forms the central conflict of the story.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film does not contain explicit depictions of witchcraft, sorcery, magic rituals, or demons. However, it explores themes that touch upon spiritual ideas, specifically regarding the consequences of altering fate and playing with forces beyond human control.
The narrative's central premise involves Barry Allen attempting to change past events, which is interpreted as 'meddling with the realm of God' or 'playing with forces that shouldn't be played with.' One scene involves characters trying to harness lightning to 'resurrect' something dormant, drawing thematic comparisons to 'Frankenstein' and the concept of playing God.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film does not explicitly promote anti-Christian messages or depict direct mockery of Christian beliefs. However, it explores themes of fate versus free will and meddling with the natural order of time, which can be interpreted as 'playing God,' without explicit religious commentary.
The thematic focus on Barry Allen's attempts to change the past delves into questions of free will and whether certain events are unchangeable, implying an 'unseen hand at work' or 'meddling with the realm of God.' This is portrayed through a scene where characters try to 'resurrect' a dormant element by harnessing lightning, drawing a parallel to the 'playing God' narrative in Frankenstein. While some profanity in the movie includes the abuse of God's name, this is categorized under profanity and not explicit anti-Christian themes.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The Flash is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some strong language, and partial nudity. It is best suited for viewers aged 13 and older, with some parent reviews suggesting 12+ due to the intensity of violence, mature themes of grief, and the presence of profanity and suggestive content.
Additional Notes
The film's runtime is approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, which might be a factor for younger audiences. Despite the intense content, positive themes such as teamwork, courage, sacrifice, compassion, and the importance of accepting what cannot be changed are present.
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