Manchester by the Sea

Movie · 2016

A slow-burn drama about grief, guilt, and family obligation following the death of a brother; the film's emotional weight is very heavy and sustained. Strong language is pervasive, and a pivotal backstory involves the accidental death of three young children in a house fire.

Explicit sexual contentSelf-harm & suicideHarm to childrenMedical traumaGraphic violence & goreAbuse & manipulationSubstance abuse

If you’d rather skip

Graphic violence & gorethe opening scenesMild

The protagonist is established as someone who starts unprovoked fights with strangers; a bar altercation is shown early in the film.

Harm to childrenthe middle act - the fire flashback sequenceStrong

Extended flashback reveals a house fire that killed the protagonist's three young children due to his drunken negligence; the burning house and body bags being removed are shown on screen.

Self-harm & suicidethe middle act - police station flashbackModerate

Immediately following the fire flashback, the protagonist attempts to take his own life by grabbing a gun from an officer's holster and is physically restrained before he can act.

6 more moments are in the full report. See all of them, checked against your own settings, in Little Later.