Truth or Dare
Blumhouse's "Truth or Dare" (2018) is a supernatural horror film that follows a group of college students whose spring break game of truth or dare turns deadly when a demonic entity begins to haunt them. The film explores themes of guilt, secrets, and survival as the friends are forced to confront their darkest truths or face fatal consequences. Aimed at a young adult and teen audience, it blends psychological torment with jump scares and grotesque imagery as characters succumb to the game's evil influence. The content of the movie includes intense violence, disturbing scenes, mature thematic material, some sexual content, and alcohol use, making it suitable for mature viewers who are comfortable with horror tropes and dark subject matter.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe movie contains frequent and disturbing depictions of violence, including suicides, forced self-harm, and murders orchestrated by the supernatural entity. The violence is a central element of the horror plot, with characters suffering grotesque and often fatal consequences for failing to follow the game's rules.
Markie is forced by the game to break Olivia's hand. Brad is shot and killed by an officer after being dared to threaten his father with a gun. Other instances include a character committing suicide by stabbing an object into his head, and Giselle being forced to kill herself.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighThe central premise of the film revolves entirely around a demonic entity named Calux and occult rituals. The game of 'Truth or Dare' is cursed by this evil spirit, and characters engage in activities directly related to summoning, appeasing, or attempting to trap the demon.
The game itself is haunted by an 'evil spirit' or 'demon named Calux' that forces characters to participate or die. A former nun, Inez Reyes, reveals she summoned Calux from an abandoned church to escape an abusive priest, initiating the curse's origin.
Scary & Intense Content
HighAs a supernatural horror film, 'Truth or Dare' is filled with frightening and intense content. This includes frequent jump scares, disturbing visual effects (such as distorted 'demon faces'), psychological torment, and numerous graphic death scenes and suicides directly linked to the demonic game.
The demon manifests by distorting characters' faces into a grotesque, smiling expression when it demands a truth or dare. The entire plot involves characters being subjected to life-threatening dares and psychological manipulation, leading to forced suicides and violent deaths, creating a constant sense of dread and suspense.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film features a gay main character, Brad Chang, whose sexual orientation becomes a direct plot point when the demonic game forces him to come out to his father. The representation is a significant element, although his coming out scene is depicted off-screen and his character is later killed.
Brad Chang is dared by the game to tell his homophobic father that he is gay. An online review also mentions a brief scene of two female friends making out, adding to the LGBTQ representation in the film.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film includes some sexual content and romantic themes, including implied sexual activity and a love triangle. While not overly explicit, scenes involve characters being dared to engage in sexual acts or revealing intimate details about their relationships.
Olivia is dared to have sex with Lucas. During this forced sexual encounter, Lucas is compelled to admit that he cares for Olivia but is in love with Markie. The film also features women in bikinis and revealing clothing during the spring break scenes.
Profanity
MediumThe movie contains strong language and profanity, including a sexual expletive and other crude terms. This contributes to the mature nature of the dialogue and is consistent with the PG-13 rating for 'language'.
Olivia uses a strong expletive, stating, 'Oh, don't tell me you're a fucking coward like your dad?' during Markie's dare to break Olivia's hand. The film's MPAA rating explicitly includes 'language,' and reviews mention a single sexual expletive and a few scatological terms.
Substance Use
MediumCharacters are shown engaging in casual and heavy alcohol consumption, particularly during a spring break trip. This includes underage drinking and instances where intoxication directly leads to negative consequences or is part of a dangerous dare.
The friends are depicted drinking heavily at a bar in Mexico during spring break. One character, Sam, gets drunk and trashes a church, which is said to have inadvertently initiated the demonic game's curse. Another character is dared to drink a large bottle of hard liquor while balancing on a high rooftop.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film portrays instances of disrespect and rebellious behavior, often compelled by the demonic game. This includes characters defying parental authority and exhibiting destructive behavior towards sacred spaces, though these actions are usually under duress from the supernatural force.
Brad is dared to threaten his father, a police officer, with a gun and make him beg for his life, an extreme act of defiance against a parental figure. Earlier in the curse's history, Sam got drunk and trashed an old church, demonstrating blatant disrespect for a religious site and property.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe movie incorporates elements that could be perceived as anti-Christian. The demonic entity is unleashed from an abandoned church, and a former nun is depicted as having used occult means to escape an abusive priest, potentially presenting religious institutions and figures in a negative light.
The demon Calux is originally summoned within a Mexican church, which becomes the nexus of the supernatural curse. The backstory reveals that Inez Reyes, a former nun, resorted to summoning the demon Calux to save herself from an abusive priest, implying corruption within a religious institution.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
15+ (Mature Teens). The movie's PG-13 rating is justified by violence, disturbing content, alcohol abuse, some sexuality, strong language, and mature thematic material. While rated PG-13, the intensity of forced self-harm, suicides, occult themes, and psychological horror may be too unsettling for younger teenagers and is best suited for mature viewers aged 15 and above, particularly with parental guidance.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that while the film is rated PG-13, its horror elements are intense, including themes of self-harm, suicide, and demonic possession. The film's ending is open-ended and bleak, with the protagonist expanding the game to a global audience to survive, raising ethical questions about perpetuating evil. There are no direct sequels to this specific 2018 Blumhouse film, so content concerns do not evolve across a franchise.
Related Reviews
Is Truth or Dare right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required