Poster for Deception

Deception (2008) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

As a corporate auditor who works in a number of different offices, Jonathan McQuarry wanders without an anchor among New York's power brokers. A chance meeting with charismatic lawyer Wyatt Bose leads to Jonathan's introduction to The List, an underground sex club. Jonathan begins an affair with a woman known only as S, who introduces Jonathan to a world of treachery and murder.

Rated R • 2008 • 1h 47m

6.0
600+
Average rating by Bontent members
Sign up for full access
Age
13+

Deception (2008) is rated R primarily for explicit sexual content and mature violence woven into a thriller about Jonathan McQuarry's (Ewan McGregor) entanglement with lawyer Wyatt Bose and a mysterious woman called “S.” Parents should be aware of multiple explicit sex scenes with full female nudity (visible breasts and nipples), on-screen blood and a discovered strangulation victim, a gunshot killing and a large apartment explosion… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams
Natasha Henstridge
Natasha Henstridge
Charlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling
Bruce Altman
Bruce Altman
AG
Andrew Ginsburg
Stephanie Roth Haberle
Stephanie Roth Haberle
Dante Spinotti
Dante Spinotti
KM
Karolina Muller
Deborah Yates
Deborah Yates
LisaGay Hamilton
LisaGay Hamilton
Sign up to get 40,000+ Bontent parent guides
Unlock ratings, reviews, recommendations and guides for all content types

Is Deception appropriate for kids?

Deception (2008) is rated R primarily for explicit sexual content and mature violence woven into a thriller about Jonathan McQuarry's (Ewan McGregor) entanglement with lawyer Wyatt Bose and a mysterious woman called “S.” Parents should be aware of multiple explicit sex scenes… Read more — free account

Content severity in Deception

Sex Strong 7/10
Violence Intense 8/10
Language Strong 6/10
Substances Moderate 3/10
Themes Strong 7/10

What happens in Deception, moment by moment

  1. 0:14 ♥ Sex & Nudity 7/10
  2. 0:16 💬 Language 6/10
  3. 0:22 ♥ Sex & Nudity 7/10
Unlock all 14 flagged moments — free account →

Sex and nudity in Deception

Strong sexual content appears throughout: several hotel sex scenes, close-up thrusting, and multiple moments of full female nudity where breasts and nipples are visible. Club and hotel sequences include women in sheer outfits and a topless older woman who straddles a man. There is no sustained explicit sex beyond what is shown in those encounters, and no male nudity is shown.

Violence and gore in Deception

Strong and occasionally graphic incidents occur: Jonathan discovers blood on hotel sheets, a murdered woman is viewed in the morgue with a deep neck wound, a character is shot and later lies bleeding, and Jonathan's apartment is destroyed in a large explosion. There are also physical assaults (a punch, being knocked out) and a scene where a gun is pointed at a character's head. The violence is not prolonged torture but includes visible blood and on-screen injury.

Language in Deception

Frequent strong profanity throughout the film, including multiple uses of the f-word and religious expletives. Swearing appears in tense confrontations and emotional moments; it's pervasive but not the primary focus of the film.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Deception

Brief drug and alcohol use is shown: characters smoke what appears to be marijuana in one scene and several sequences show characters drinking in bars or hotel rooms. Smoking and casual drinking are treated matter-of-factly and are not glamorized as central plot points.

Mature themes in Deception

Strong mature themes: murder, framing, identity theft/deception, sexual exploitation and manipulation drive the plot and motivate the central betrayals. The story centers on psychological manipulation — Jonathan is set up and his life is nearly destroyed — which may be upsetting for viewers sensitive to betrayal or wrongful accusation.

Bontent Member Reviews

Register for free to join the conversation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Deception appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Deception is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. Deception (2008) is rated R primarily for explicit sexual content and mature violence woven into a thriller about Jonathan McQuarry's (Ewan McGregor) entanglement with lawyer Wyatt Bose and a mysterious woman called…

What age rating does Deception have?

Deception is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is Deception about?

Deception (2008) is rated R primarily for explicit sexual content and mature violence woven into a thriller about Jonathan McQuarry's (Ewan McGregor) entanglement with lawyer Wyatt Bose and a mysterious woman called “S.” Parents should be aware of multiple explicit sex scenes with full female nudity (visible breasts…

Is there sex or nudity in Deception?

Strong sexual content appears throughout: several hotel sex scenes, close-up thrusting, and multiple moments of full female nudity where breasts and nipples are visible. Club and hotel sequences include women in sheer outfits and a topless older woman who…

How violent is Deception?

Strong and occasionally graphic incidents occur: Jonathan discovers blood on hotel sheets, a murdered woman is viewed in the morgue with a deep neck wound, a character is shot and later lies bleeding, and Jonathan's apartment is destroyed in a large…

Is the language in Deception appropriate for kids?

Frequent strong profanity throughout the film, including multiple uses of the f-word and religious expletives. Swearing appears in tense confrontations and emotional moments; it's pervasive but not the primary focus of the film.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Deception?

Brief drug and alcohol use is shown: characters smoke what appears to be marijuana in one scene and several sequences show characters drinking in bars or hotel rooms. Smoking and casual drinking are treated matter-of-factly and are not glamorized as central…

What mature themes appear in Deception?

Strong mature themes: murder, framing, identity theft/deception, sexual exploitation and manipulation drive the plot and motivate the central betrayals. The story centers on psychological manipulation — Jonathan is set up and his life is nearly destroyed …

How long is Deception?

Deception runs 107 minutes, directed by Marcel Langenegger, released in 2008.

Where can I read the full Deception parent guide?

Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.

Sign up for access to 40,000+ parent guides.