Urge is a movie that tries very hard to be provocative and ends up being merely exhausting. If you’re looking for a smart thriller or even a fun, campy Pierce Brosnan performance, keep looking—this isn’t it. It’s a cynical, mean-spirited slog that mistakes graphic violence and "edgy" nihilism for a plot.
TL;DR: Urge is a Hard-R thriller about a designer drug that deletes impulse control, but the film itself has no self-restraint. It’s filled with graphic violence, sexual assault themes, and heavy drug use, all while failing to deliver a coherent story. Skip this mess and check out our best movies list for actual quality suspense.
The premise of Urge is actually a decent "what if" scenario: A group of wealthy, bored friends travels to a private island where a mysterious figure known as "The Man" (Pierce Brosnan) introduces them to a new drug. The drug, Urge, allows you to act on every single impulse without hesitation. The catch? You can only take it once in your life.
Of course, the characters immediately ignore the rule, and the island devolves into a violent, orgy-filled nightmare. The problem isn't the premise—it’s the execution. The movie doesn't explore the psychology of impulse or the consequences of a lawless society in any meaningful way. It just uses the "no impulse control" gimmick as an excuse to show people being terrible to each other for 90 minutes.
When we say Urge is a Hard-R, we aren't just talking about a few stray f-bombs. This is a movie that leans into the most uncomfortable parts of its rating:
- Mean-Spirited Violence: This isn’t stylized action. It’s stabbings, shootings, and physical abuse that feels designed to shock rather than serve the story.
- Graphic Content: The film features explicit sexual situations, including themes of non-consensual encounters that are handled with zero grace or narrative necessity.
- The Drug Factor: While many movies use drugs as a plot device, Urge glorifies the "high" before turning into a horror show, but it lacks the cautionary weight of something like Requiem for a Dream. It’s just "drug use as a personality trait."
Parents often see a name like Pierce Brosnan and assume there’s a baseline level of quality or "Bond-style" adventure. Don't be fooled. Brosnan is barely in the movie, appearing mostly in weird, neon-lit cameos to deliver cryptic dialogue. He seems to be in a completely different (and slightly better) movie than the rest of the cast. If your teen is a fan of his work, point them toward The Thomas Crown Affair or even Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga for something that’s actually worth their time.
If you’re looking for suspense, mystery, or "island" vibes without the nihilistic baggage, there are far better ways to spend an evening.
If the "wealthy people on a private island" trope is what caught your eye, this is the gold standard. It’s smart, funny, and features a mystery that actually rewards you for paying attention. It deals with ego and impulse but does so with a sharp wit instead of a meat cleaver.
For a story about control, reality, and the choices we make when we think no one is watching (or when everyone is), this classic hits much harder than any modern "edgy" thriller. It’s a masterclass in psychological tension that works for almost any age.
If your kid wants a "mind-bending" movie involving altered states of consciousness, Inception is the move. It’s complicated, visual, and high-stakes without needing to resort to the cheap shocks found in Urge.
For older teens interested in the idea of "splitting" one's personality or losing control over a part of their life, Severance is the best thing on TV right now. It’s creepy, philosophical, and incredibly well-made.
The one useful thing about the concept of Urge is the conversation it could have started about the prefrontal cortex. Kids and teens are essentially living a version of this movie every day—their "impulse control" center is still under construction.
If you want to turn the idea of the movie into a conversation, skip the screening and ask these instead:
- "If you had a 'mute' button for your conscience for one hour, what’s the first thing you’d do? Why do you think we have that 'voice' in our heads to begin with?"
- "Why do you think movies always portray 'no rules' as a nightmare instead of a utopia?"
- "A lot of tech and apps are designed to bypass our impulse control (like infinite scroll or 'one more match'). How do you spot when a game is trying to take over your 'Urge' button?"
The biggest friction point here is the "cool factor" bait. The trailer makes it look like a high-fashion, high-concept sci-fi thriller. In reality, it’s a low-budget exploitation film that happens to have a former James Bond in it. There is no "hidden message" or artistic payoff at the end. It’s just 90 minutes of people being terrible, followed by a nonsensical ending.
Q: Is Urge appropriate for a 16-year-old? Not really. While 16-year-olds see plenty of R-rated content, Urge features particularly mean-spirited violence and sexual assault themes that offer no educational or narrative value. It’s "edgelord" cinema at its worst.
Q: Does the movie have a lot of drug use? Yes, the entire plot revolves around a designer drug. It portrays drug use in a stylized, neon-heavy way that feels more like a music video than a story, which can be a turn-off for parents looking for more grounded content.
Q: Is Pierce Brosnan the main character? No. He’s the "villain/mentor" figure who appears in a handful of scenes. He’s the marketing bait, but the movie focuses on a group of unlikable younger characters.
Urge is a skip. It’s a waste of a good premise and a waste of your time. If you want a thriller that respects your intelligence, head over to our digital guide for high schoolers for better recommendations.
- Check out the best movies for kids and teens for actual quality control.
- If your teen is into "mind-game" stories, try the best suspenseful shows list.
- Ask our chatbot for a thriller recommendation based on a movie your kid actually liked
