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MOVIE REVIEW

DOLORES CLAIBORNE

1995R126 minutesColumbia PicturesSuspense Drama
Excessive — skip this one.
ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY ★★★★ 4 / 4
FAMILY CONTENT Excessive −3 on the +4 to −4 scale Not recommended
CONTENT LEVELS NONE → HEAVY
Language Heavy
Violence Moderate
Sex Moderate
Nudity None
SHARE f 𝕏 ✉ ⧉

What You Need To Know

DELORES CLAIBORNE (Kathy Bates) is a murderer, or so it seems. With the opening scene of Vera Donnovan plunging down a staircase to her near-death, and Delores racing past her to ransack the kitchen for a rolling pin with which to complete the job, the stage is set for another of Steven King’s horror films. As it would happen, the mailman opens the door just as Delores stands over the broken body of Vera. His conclusion is obvious. Enter Detective John Mackey. Just as it appears certain that Delores will either give her confession, or be bound over for trial, her daughter, Selena, comes to the rescue. Though only a reporter, she fulfills the part of an efficient lawyer in the hearing before the Magistrate.In the end, Mackey must tell the truth.

DELORES CLAIBORNE is a powerful movie. Kathy Bates is totally convincing and consuming. The audience is kept without a clue, right to the end. The two major drawbacks are from a moral perspective. First, there is a drunken and abusive father who explicitly molests his 13-year-old daughter. Secondly, there is alcoholism and the abuse and explosive violence that can be expected in such a home. However, in the end the premise comes through: “tell the truth — truth will set you free!”

The Content Guide

The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.

Content Summary

Ultimately moral worldview with Scripture quoted once in context; pagan lifestyles depicted; 49 obscenities & 25 profanities; multiple acts of spousal abuse & child abuse either shown or implied & revenge killing & beatings depicted graphically; explicit sexual conversations & father's sexual abuse of daughter implied & depicted; alcoholism; and, drug abuse.

Movieguide® worldview codes: B, Pa, NA, LLL, VV, SS, A, D — preserved for our database, awards research and the annual Report to the Entertainment Industry. What the codes mean →

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