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"THE RETURN"
(2006) (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Peter O'Brien) (PG-13)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate Moderate Extreme *Moderate Heavy
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild Moderate Extreme None Heavy
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Moderate None Heavy Moderate Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Horror: A woman tries to solve the mystery of what's causing her to have nightmarish visions of a past event.
PLOT:
Joanna Mills (SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR) is a successful sales associate for a Midwestern trucking company. Always on the road, she's good at what she does, meaning she easily beats out her coworker and ex-lover Kurt (ADAM SCOTT) to pitch their trucking services to a company in Texas, the state where she grew up and apparently claimed she'd never return to again. After leaving a phone message for her estranged dad Ed (SAM SHEPARD) and getting together with her local friend Michelle (KATE BEAHAN), Joanna finds herself drawn to the town of La Salle.

Suffering from nightmarish visions since her childhood of what appears to be a murder, the perpetrator, and his victim, she feels an innate need to solve this mystery. Yet, Kurt has followed her there as well, and she needs the help of a local man, Terry Stahl (PETER O'BRIEN), to save her from him. Following the murder of his wife Annie (ERINN ALLISON) years ago, Terry's been labeled as the unwelcome outcast, and he isn't particularly pleased when Joanna later sneaks into his place -- having been unconsciously drawn there -- and starts snooping around.

From that point on, and with her visions continuing, Joanna keeps trying to discover the source of them, a quest that may just put her life in danger.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're into supposedly scary horror films and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they just might.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For violence, terror and disturbing images.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR plays a sales person for a trucking company who's always on the road, but is perpetually haunted by images and visions, particularly when she travels to Texas for business, a place she swore she'd never return to again. Upon meeting Terry, she begins snooping around his farm, hoping to find answers to her mystery. She briefly drinks, and has a habit of purposefully cutting herself while under duress.
  • PETER O'BRIEN plays the town's mysterious outcast who saves Joanna from her abusive ex-boyfriend, and is still affected by his wife's murder from long ago.
  • ADAM SCOTT plays Joanna's abusive ex-boyfriend and fellow coworker who confronts and physically attacks her.
  • KATE BEAHAN plays Joanna's friend, a Texan who hasn't seen her in a long time and goes out drinking with her.
  • SAM SHEPARD plays Joanna's estranged father who worries about her mental well-being.
  • ERINN ALLISON plays Terry's wife in the past.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this horror picture that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while only a handful of other expletives and some colorful phrases are also uttered. A brief line of sexually related dialogue is present, while a dream or fantasy sequence briefly (and only partially) shows a couple making out and nuzzling (mostly out of focus and shown in a very scattershot way).

    Violence consists of people being killed (by stabbing) in the present and in flashback, while some fighting, a few car accidents, and one character purposefully cutting herself both as a child and as an adult also occurs. Some of those scenes have moderate amounts of bloody results, they and other moments of potential peril might be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers (but probably not to seasoned horror aficionados), and various jump scenes occur.

    Various bad attitudes are present, characters drink in several scenes, and tense family material involves marital deaths and parent child estrangement.

    If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

    For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there are some bright and repetitively flashing lights in a scene late in the film.

    For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of camera movement (sometimes quite a bit) at various points in the film.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Kurt uses a throwaway line about getting a beer with Joanna so that some people passing by don't catch on that he's intimidating her.
  • When Joanna says she owes her friend for giving her an in for a business pitch, Michelle says Joanna can repay her by buying the first two rounds (of drinks). When Joanna then asks Michelle if she heard another voice during their phone call, Michelle asks if Joanna has started (drinking) without her. We then see them in a bar where others drink and Joanna downs some sort of medication with a shot of tequila.
  • Joanna has a vision of going to another bar where various people drink and she accidentally tips over a beer bottle.
  • When Joanna comments on finally seeing the bar from her visions, Michelle replies that she probably just remembers it, adding that they probably drank there in high school.
  • Miscellaneous people drink in a bar.
  • Joanna sees a beer bottle on the floor in Terry's place.
  • Joanna, Terry, and others have beer outdoors, and we then see three men walking up, carrying beer bottles.
  • We see a flashback to Annie accidentally tipping over a beer bottle in a bar.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • In a flashback, we see young Joanna with a large bruise on her forehead, something her dad attributes to a car accident several months ago.
  • While at a carnival, young Joanna hides beneath a table where, under duress, she then grabs and breaks a bottle, cutting her hand and leg with that (with bloody results).
  • Joanna pops out a switchblade and proceeds to cut her upper arm with it (we don't see the actual cutting, but Michelle later finds her seated on the floor in a bathroom stall with blood on her arm and a little on the toilet).
  • Kurt has some blood on his face after Terry beats him up (for attacking Joanna).
  • Joanna has visions of a man attacking Annie (with a knife, but the attack is choppily edited, including an earring being yanked out of a lobe). That's inter-cut with her using her switchblade to stab or cut her own gut and/or hand (her hand is bloody, and is Annie's in the flashback).
  • Joanna has a slightly bloody cut on her head following a car accident.
  • We see a flashback to the killer attacking Annie, cutting her leg (with some bloody results) and more slicing on her.
  • Joanna has a little blood on her chest after killing the killer.
  • In a flashback, Terry worries about Annie after the killer attacked her, leaving her severely wounded and bloody (the view is in the dark, so we don't see the full details).
  • Young Joanna's dad worries about her following a car accident that's left her somewhat bloody (a few scrapes, a bloody mouth).
  • Terry has some of his and/or his wife's blood on his hand.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • The killer (past and present) obviously has a bad attitude.
  • When Joanna proposes she pitch a potential client about their trucking services, Kurt (who wants to do the pitch) says that the client is out of her league (but she gets the gig).
  • While threateningly blocking Joanna from exiting through a door, Kurt makes a sexual comment about something being rough and that she likes it like that.
  • Kurt attacks Joanna in her motel room and seems prepared to rape her.
  • After stopping him from attacking Kurt (for the latter attacking Joanna), one local guy spits at Terry's feet and another purposefully bumps him with his shoulder in passing.
  • Joanna enters Terry's home when he's not there (they've only just previously met) and slowly starts looking around (during the day).
  • Joanna returns to Terry's house (he's not home) and snoops around, even in his bedroom.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful, or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Others might have less of a reaction or any at all, especially if they've seen films with bigger and better scares.
  • While at a carnival, young Joanna hears a supernatural voice whisper "Sunshine," and then spots a shady looking man walking her way. She then hides beneath a table (with the tablecloth over it only allowing her a view of the man's approaching feet). She then grabs and breaks a bottle, cutting her hand and leg with that (with bloody results).
  • While sleepy and driving down a dark road, Joanna passes a man walking in the same direction. Just then, her radio starts acting crazily, repeatedly going back to the Patsy Cline song, "Sweet Dreams" no matter what station she goes to or even when she puts in a CD. That freaks her out, prompting her to get out of the truck and stand in the light from the headlights, starring back at the truck. She then steps on broken glass and then follows that to the remnants of a car accident where two vehicles are damaged, but we don't see anyone (she hears echoey sounds of her father, but he's not there).
  • While talking to Michelle on the phone, Joanna hears snippets of talking ("I just want to talk to you") seemingly addressed at her (but Michelle doesn't hear them).
  • Kurt grabs Joanna in a bar, prompting a patron to intercede and push Kurt backwards. Joanna races back to her motel room, but when she goes to close the door, Kurt blasts in, grabs, and then pins her to the bed, as if he's going to rape her. Terry then rushes in and yanks Kurt off her. He then follows Kurt outside, confronting and then hitting him in the neck, slamming his head down onto the hood of a car, and then striking him several more times before other locals pull him away.
  • Joanna enters Terry's home when he's not there (they've only just previously met) and slowly starts looking around (during the day). She then hears footsteps above her, echoes of the "Sweet Dreams" song from before, and then has a gush of supernatural wind blow by her. She then races out of the house, only to encounter Terry who isn't pleased to see she let herself in.
  • A sudden sound awakens Joanna in her motel room. She then sees the doorknob slowly turning, so she hides under the bed, only to see the lower legs part of a man enter and slowly walk around, with some chains he's holding making a clinking sound. He calls out for "Sunshine" and then suddenly leans down to look under the bed (another jump scene, with accompanying sudden music).
  • Joanna hears a voice call out "Sunshine" and then suddenly has a man in front of her. She runs and hides, with the man searching for her (she sees his lower legs passing by and hears the same chain clinking sound from before). He then suddenly lands on top of the wooden platform under which she's hiding, and is then down on her level. He shoves her back (she hits her head), but when she flees, his long hair appears to get stuck in some machinery, thus allowing her to escape.
  • While panicked and driving, Joanna nearly hits an oncoming truck.
  • While driving, Joanna looks back and suddenly sees a child's face crouched down in the foot well of the back seat, stating, "There was a man."
  • Joanna discovers that she has drawings from her childhood that mirror those found on Terry's barn wall. She then has visions of a man attacking Annie (with a knife, but the attack is choppily edited, including an earring being yanked out of a lobe). That's inter-cut with her using her switchblade to stab or cut her own gut and/or hand (her hand is bloody, and is Annie's in the flashback).
  • Looking behind her to make sure she's not being followed, Joanna looks forward only to find a tow truck in her path. She swerves, runs off the road, and crashes into a creek (we see her lying partially out of the open SUV window, unconscious and with a slightly bloody cut on her head). The tow truck owner is in no hurry to help her, and then retrieves a tire iron or something similar (presumably to finish her off), but when he looks down the embankment, she's gone. Spotting her running away, he gives chase.
  • We see a flashback to the killer arriving at Annie's home, with her then hiding under the bed and seeing his lower legs pass by, hearing the clinking sounds of the chains he's carrying. He then suddenly reaches down, grabs her feet and yanks her out from under the bed. She manages to get away and runs to the barn.
  • The killer slams Terry back against a wall and then repeatedly hits him with a heavy chain, and repeatedly kicks him on the ground. Joanna then stabs a knife into the killer, with him then falling dead onto her body (with the knife impaling him once more). That scene is inter-cut with a flashback to the killer attacking Annie, cutting her leg (with some bloody results) and more slicing on her.
  • A car accidentally slams into a parked car at night along the side of the road, causing severe damage to both vehicles and injuring the occupants.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Switchblade/Knife: Carried and/or used to wound oneself or kill others. See "Violence" for details.
  • A killer drops a knife down into an old car's gas tank opening (in a flashback). Joanna later finds that same car and retrieves the knife from the rusty car.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Where the f*ck you at?" "Piece of sh*t," "What up, d*ck?" and "Tossed out on their ass."
  • The film might inspire some kids to try to startle others in ways similar to those that occur here.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • Joanna's truck headlights and radio suddenly come on in the middle of the night, startling her.
  • A sudden flash image of a face (accompanied by sudden music) might startle some viewers.
  • A sudden mirror reflection (with sudden music) might startle some viewers.
  • Joanna runs out of Terry's house only to encounter him at the front door.
  • A sudden sound awakens Joanna in her motel room. She then sees the doorknob slowly turning, so she hides under the bed, only to see the lower legs part of a man enter and slowly walk around, with some chains he's holding making a clinking sound. He calls out for "Sunshine" and then suddenly leans down to look under the bed (another jump scene, with accompanying sudden music).
  • Joanna hears a voice call out "Sunshine" and then suddenly has a man in front of her. She runs and hides, and the man suddenly lands on top of the wooden platform under which she's hiding.
  • Joanna pulls some clothing off a mirror and then suddenly sees Annie's reflection in it.
  • While driving, Joanna looks back and suddenly sees a child's face crouched down in the foot well of the back seat, stating, "There was a man."
  • Looking behind her to make sure she's not being followed, Joanna looks forward only to find a tow truck in her path.
  • In present day, Joanna hides in a barn from a man who's been chasing her. His hand then suddenly bursts through a wooden wall, grabbing at her, but she manages to escape.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film (along with scary chords erupting during the various "jump scenes").
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 1 "f" word, 1 "s" word, 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck," while there's another possible use of "pr*ck"), 1 ass, 1 hell, 2 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use of "Oh God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • We briefly and partially see Joanna in her boy-shorts type underwear as she's getting dressed (pulling up her pants).
  • While menacingly blocking Joanna from exiting through a door, Kurt makes a sexual comment about something being rough and that she likes it like that.
  • Some small mermaid figurines in Joanna's childhood bedroom appear to display bare breasts (but they're seen from enough of a distance that no details can be observed).
  • We see out of focus and slightly abstract flashback views of Terry kissing and nuzzling on his wife (with hands on what seems to be a dress with flowers on it, or something similar), with Annie looking pleasured, but her face then turns into Joanna's, and Joanna then wakes up from her dream.
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • It's implied (by their interaction) that Joanna and her dad are now estranged.
  • When Joanna asks her dad if he's going to get married again, he says no (asking who'd take him and his bad habits), saying that he and his wife will find each other again (presumably meaning after death).
  • When Joanna asks her dad what happened in La Salle, he says that the age of 11, she started seeing things and hurting herself. When he says he couldn't control her, she gets mad and says that she was crying out for help. She then leaves his house, rather upset.
  • We see Terry looking at an old newspaper clipping reporting his wife's death. He then tells Joanna that Annie was murdered in their barn and that he became the main suspect.
  • In a flashback, Terry worries about Annie after the killer attacked her, leaving her severely wounded and bloody (the view is in the dark, so we don't see the full details).
  • Young Joanna's dad worries about her following a car accident that's left her somewhat bloody (a few scrapes, a bloody mouth) and unconscious, but she eventually regains consciousness.
  • Terry sees his wife die in the car with him (in a flashback, and from the killer attacking her and a subsequent serious car wreck).
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Joanna purposefully cutting herself while under duress (as a child and then later as an adult).
  • Estranged parent/child relationships.
  • Losing a spouse.
  • VIOLENCE
  • While at a carnival, young Joanna hides beneath a table where, under duress, she then grabs and breaks a bottle, cutting her hand and leg with that (with bloody results).
  • Joanna pops out a switchblade and proceeds to cut her upper arm with it (we don't see the actual cutting, but Michelle later finds her seated on the floor in a bathroom stall with blood on her arm and a little on the toilet).
  • Kurt grabs Joanna in a bar, prompting a patron to intercede and push Kurt backwards. Joanna races back to her motel room, but when she goes to close the door, Kurt blasts in, grabs, and then pins her to the bed, as if he's going to rape her. Terry then rushes in and yanks Kurt off her. He then follows Kurt outside, confronting and then hitting him in the neck, slamming his head down onto the hood of a car, and then striking him several more times before other locals pull him away.
  • After stopping him from attacking Kurt (for the latter attacking Joanna), a local guy purposefully bumps him with his shoulder in passing.
  • A man shoves Joanna back under a platform where she was hiding (she hits her head), but when she flees, his long hair appears to get stuck in some machinery, thus allowing her to escape.
  • Joanna discovers that she has drawings from her childhood that mirror those found on Terry's barn wall. She then has visions of a man attacking Annie (with a knife, but the attack is choppily edited, including an earring being yanked out of a lobe). That's inter-cut with her using her switchblade to stab or cut her own gut and/or hand (her hand is bloody, and is Annie's in the flashback).
  • Looking behind her to make sure she's not being followed, Joanna looks forward only to find a tow truck in her path. She swerves, runs off the road, and crashes into a creek (we see her lying partially out of the open SUV window, unconscious and with a slightly bloody cut on her head).
  • We see a flashback to the killer arriving at Annie's home, with her then hiding under the bed and seeing his lower legs pass by, hearing the clinking sounds of the chains he's carrying. He then suddenly reaches down, grabs her feet and yanks her out from under the bed. She manages to get away and runs to the barn.
  • The killer slams Terry back against a wall and then repeatedly hits him with a heavy chain, and repeatedly kicks him on the ground. Joanna then stabs a knife into the killer, with him then falling dead onto her body (with the knife impaling him once more). That scene is inter-cut with a flashback to the killer attacking Annie, cutting her leg (with some bloody results) and more slicing on her.
  • A car accidentally slams into a parked car at night along the side of the road, causing severe damage to both vehicles and injuring the occupants.



  • Reviewed November 10, 2006 / Posted November 10, 2006

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