The Elephant Man - Family Review

Content Warnings

• Sexual Content

  Mild
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  Genitals are referred to in an anatomical discussion and we see pants being removed from the man being discussed (this is seen from behind a curtain and he is facing backwards from the camera so there is no actual nudity).

• Violence

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  In a surreal sequence a woman is knocked over by an elephants trunk and seems to be in pain.

  A scene where a man is being operated on by surgeons, we see his body for a while. We can see blood on his whole face and torso and his chest is open, though it's not very gory because it's in black and white. Still, surgical detail is shown.

  A scene of two women fighting, they are yelling and being held back by people in a crowed and police officers, their faces are covered in blood and scratches.

  A man grabs another man by the throat. A man threatens another man with a metal rod and is then hit on the head with a heavy object and knocked out.

  A man hits a young boy and he falls over.

  A man bumps into a young girl while he is running and she falls over.

  The scenes where a disabled man is beaten are upsetting and disturbing. He is repeatedly struck with a cane on multiple occasions, thrown around, forced to drink alcohol, forced to kiss a woman, he is seen falling over and choking because of the bad conditions and at one point is near death.

• Profanity

  Mild
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  5 uses of 'Bastard' and 1 use of 'Damn'

  A few uses of 'Bleeding' and one or two uses of 'God'

• Intense Scenes

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  Throughout the film, John Merrick is continuously tormented by society, and he's shown getting physically and emotionally abused. This is extremely emotionally upsetting, depressing and traumatizing, especially for anyone who has gone through a similar fate.

  The main character has an extremely deformed appearance that many could find disturbing. However, the film makes a point of showing how he is a very good and gentle man despite his affliction.

  In a traumatic dream scene, Merrick is kicked with a drowning noise in the background.