SUICIDE SQUAD
A colorful superhero spectacle for discerning adults, not children.
Should You Watch It?
Suicide Squad has enough fresh, entertaining material to justify a qualified recommendation. The action is fluid, the images are colorful, and the soundtrack is loud. Margot Robbie and Will Smith hold the film together, while the stories of Deadshot and Diablo give the movie emotional weight and a surprising focus on redemption.
But the film is also clunky and choppy. Its many back stories delay the main story, some action sequences are less effective than they should be, and the special effects can become murky. Jared Leto’s Joker disappoints, too.
The larger issue is content. Strong profanity, very strong violence, occult powers, sexualized imagery, and disturbing behavior make this unsuitable for children and young teens. Discerning adults who enjoy comic-book movies and can handle those concerns may take the trip; families with younger viewers should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter Superman’s death, a ruthless government intelligence officer assembles imprisoned supervillains to face a powerful meta-human threat. Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Diablo, Boomerang, Katana, and others are forced to work with a Navy SEAL team.
Explosive devices implanted in their bodies are meant to keep them obedient. Their mission is to stop the Enchantress, an ancient meta-human with occult powers, before she and her brother destroy the world.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means Suicide Squad is entertaining but significantly uneven. The action is fluid, the shots are colorful, and the soundtrack is energetic. Robbie is fabulous as Harley Quinn, and Smith is especially good as Deadshot. Jay Hernandez and Joel Kinnaman also provide emotional heft through their characters’ painful histories.
The movie’s problems are substantial. Separate villain back stories slow the beginning, the writing is sloppy and choppy, and the action is not as entertaining as comparable Marvel sequences. Murky special effects further weaken the production. Leto’s Joker is boring and disappointing, while Viola Davis gives a cold, journeyman performance as Amanda Waller.
The Worldview
The film presents a dark world where the American government uses imprisoned supervillains to fight an evil witch-like figure with supernatural powers. It contains some overt Christian references and meaningful redemptive elements, especially through characters who face the consequences of their actions and want to change.
Deadshot wants to reconnect with his daughter and find redemption in the eyes of the law. He wears a crucifix and refers to the Holy Ghost and the Bible. A song also mentions Jesus. Diablo is deeply remorseful after accidentally killing his wife and children when he lost control of his powers. He refuses to erase those consequences, rejecting the idea that magical thinking can make evil disappear.
The film also presents troubling moral ideas and behavior. Being bad is sometimes celebrated, even though the story also values moral change. The government agent is ruthless when her missions are at stake, while one American soldier and his Navy SEAL team are portrayed positively. The film’s supernatural framework remains troubling, even alongside its Christian and moral references.
The longing for redemption is real, but the film cannot fully answer it. Scripture says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light mixed pagan worldview set in a dark world about the American government using imprisoned supervillains to stop an evil witch character who’s called a meta-human and has special powers, but with some overt Christian, redemptive, moral elements about doing the right thing and pursuing a possible redemption (including references to a Cross hanging around a main character’s neck, woman makes the Sign of the Cross after seeing a witch in action, the Holy Ghost, the Bible, and Jesus [in the song “Spirit in the Sky”], mitigated by some light antinomian thinking about evil and one American soldier and his Navy Seals team are positive, but a U.S. government agent is shown to be ruthless when her missions are on the line; about 46 obscenities (many “s” words and some lighter obscenities), four strong profanities (three GDs, one Jesus reference) and two light profanities, plus one possible “f” word; plenty of strong and some very strong violence includes use of all sorts of weapons (including hand guns, machine guns, knives, swords, baseball bat, and a boomerang), villain has turned humans into humanoid rock creatures who attack protagonist and are busted apart frequently, Joker gives shock treatment to female psychiatrist, and she becomes crazy like him, explosions, threats of blowing up people, it’s said that Killer Croc eats people, heavy hand-to-hand combat, one supervillain can exude fire from his hands and body but can’t always control his power (he is remorseful about losing control one day and accidentally killing his wife and two children), woman grabs villain’s heart to control her powers, and guards take delight in treating prisoners roughly; suggestive dancing in a nightclub and passionate kissing; women dressed provocatively (including one of the female protagonists) and upper male nudity; some alcohol use; no smoking or illegal; drugs, but government knocks out some prisoners with drugs to transport them; and, severe mental dysfunction, lying, trash talking, being bad is sometimes extolled but so is changing oneself for the better, and murderous tendencies.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Deadshot wants to become a better father and redeem himself. What does real change require beyond wanting a different reputation?
2 Corinthians 5:17 · James 2:17Diablo refuses to pretend that killing his family never happened. Why is honestly facing sin and its consequences important?
Psalm 32:5 · 1 John 1:9The government controls the squad through threats and explosive devices. What is the difference between obedience produced by fear and obedience shaped by love?
1 John 4:18 · John 14:15The film sometimes celebrates being bad but also honors changing for the better. How should Christians respond when a story mixes moral truth with serious confusion?
Philippians 4:8 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21The Final Word
Suicide Squad offers colorful action, strong performances, and a surprising redemptive core. Its clumsy storytelling and troubling content keep it away from family viewing. For discerning adults who enjoy comic-book spectacle, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For everyone else, consider these.
