HIGH CRIMES
A gripping truth-seeking thriller for discerning adults only.
Should You Watch It?
HIGH CRIMES is a fast-moving, entertaining thriller with strong performances and gripping suspense. Its central fear is deeply unsettling: what if you do not really know the person closest to you? The story also asks how far you would go to uncover and defend hard truth.
That strength comes at a serious cost. The film contains widespread sexual content, language, nudity and alcohol themes, along with numerous violent moments. Its moral questions are also complicated by choices ruled by emotion and relativism, as well as elements that disparage the military and patriotism.
If you are an adult who can engage those concerns with discernment, the film offers a compelling mystery and strong entertainment. For teenagers and families, choose something else. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY is the practical answer.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHigh-powered attorney Claire Kubik and her successful husband, Tom, appear to have a romantic, trust-filled life. Then a bungled burglary at their home sets off a chain of events that shatters their world.
Tom is arrested for military crimes connected to a 1988 skirmish in El Salvador. Claire takes a leave from her prestigious law firm and joins an inexperienced military defender and a once-famous alcoholic lawyer to uncover the truth, whatever the consequences.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means HIGH CRIMES delivers excellent entertainment despite its serious content concerns. The film is fast moving, fun, well acted by top stars and gripping in its suspense. Its mystery, action and pacing keep the investigation compelling.
The story’s strongest hook is also its most personal: Claire must confront the possibility that she does not know her husband as well as she thought. The film challenges viewers to ask how far they would go to find and defend hard truth. Its Hollywood violence, sex and language are excessive, but the story and suspense remain strong.
The Worldview
HIGH CRIMES values truth above all, even when truth hurts. Claire risks her career, family and life to uncover what really happened and defend hard truth. That commitment gives the film a strong moral center.
The worldview becomes less stable through its romantic emphasis on emotion and its relativistic choices. The film also contains elements that disparage the military and patriotism, along with politically correct elements. Its characters often allow feelings and circumstances to rule their behavior rather than holding to a consistent moral standard.
The film’s central longing is for truth that can survive betrayal and painful discovery. Scripture says, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant moral worldview espouses the triumph of truth, even when it hurts; secondary worldview is romantic, with emotions and relativism ruling behaviors; anti-patriotic and anti-military elements; politically correct elements; 18 obscenities and 4 profanities; numerous instances of violence, including war-time terrors, interrogations, shootings, domestic violence such as break-ins by burglars, man-to-man skirmishes, man-to-woman violence with woman chased, tied up, etc., and marine bar-type violence with attempted murders depicted; several instances of implied or depicted sex, mostly between husband and wife, but largely veiled, plus one scene of implied fornication with scantily-clad sister and boyfriend and a couple scenes showing prostitutes seducing a possible witness; partially nude dancers, partial upper female frontal nudity & women in underwear; alcohol use and abuse; some allusions to drug use or abuse; and, lying, stealing, cheating, rude insults, and betrayal.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Claire pursues truth even when it threatens her marriage, career and safety. What does Scripture ask of us when truth is painful?
Ephesians 4:25 · John 8:32The film asks whether we can truly know the person we love. What does faithful love require when trust is shaken?
1 Corinthians 13:6–7 · Ephesians 4:2–3The story includes characters whose emotions and circumstances shape their moral choices. How can God’s Word help us discern right from wrong when feelings are strong?
Proverbs 3:5–7 · Romans 12:2The film raises questions about military action, patriotism and justice. How should Christians think about authority, courage and the pursuit of justice?
Romans 13:1–4 · Micah 6:8The Final Word
HIGH CRIMES is excellent entertainment: fast, suspenseful and well acted, with truth at its center. But widespread sexual content, language, nudity, alcohol themes and violence make it unsuitable for teenagers and families. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. Families looking for another choice can begin here:.
