Wondering if Hillbilly Elegy on Netflix is ok for kids or teens? It’s not. Rated R for violence, drug use, and vulgar language, Hillbilly Elegy is not a feel-good story for families, even though it tries to show how you can overcome a hard upbringing. Here’s what parents need to know in this Hillbilly Elegy Parents Guide.
Hillbilly Elegy Parents Guide
J.D. Vance is a law student at Yale and doesn’t quite fit in with the elite crowd. He is drawn back to his Appalachian hometown where he reflects on his family’s history and his own future. One of the ways he was able to get to Yale was by leaving his drug-addicted and abusive mother (Amy Adams) to live with his tough as nails Mawmaw (Glenn Close) who has an abusive past herself.
Although there are plenty of heavy hitter actors, Hillbilly Elegy does overboard with the stereotypes and somehow still manages to disparage the same community it tries to protect.
Hillbilly Elegy is rated R for a reason. There is a lot of abuse and language. Here’s what parents need to know.
Language
Hillbilly Elegy is HEAVY on the language including damn, f–k, bit–, a–, a–hole, pu–y, whore, di–, di–head, and sh–. There is a lot of profanity as well as sexual expletives.
Mature Content
Characters are abused emotionally and physically. There are many instances of abuse by adults to other adults and to children including domestic violence.
A character sets her husband on fire. Another character cuts her wrist and blood is shown.
A mother is addicted to drugs. Teens use drugs and alcohol like smoking pot, taking pills, and injecting drugs.
There is talk of characters getting “knocked up” at a young age.
Is Hillbilly Elegy Appropriate for Kids Under 16?
Sure there are lessons to be learned – rising above it all, forgiveness, family first, and all that. However, I can’t get over the stereotypes and vulgarity. I wouldn’t recommend Hillbilly Elegy for kids under 18.
I’d be careful with those who have suffered abuse as this could trigger memories or their own flashbacks. Nothing says hillbilly like bad hair, being overweight, and having a shady past, right? No, and that’s why this movie does its audience a disservice.
It’s as if Hillbilly Elegy is trying to prove all the prejudices against those living in rural America, and it’s a shame, because there is a lot of talent in this film.
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