Boiling Point – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Boiling Point

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-octane, one-shot panic attack in a London kitchen that makes Gordon Ramsay look like a kindergarten teacher.

99%

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Boiling Point

movie

R, 2021

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-octane, one-shot panic attack in a London kitchen that makes Gordon Ramsay look like a kindergarten teacher.

99%

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99%

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Screenwise Verdict

Boiling Point is a phenomenal piece of filmmaking, but calling it 'entertainment' feels like a stretch—it’s more like an endurance test. It’s a 90-minute anxiety attack captured in a single, breathtaking take. If you’re looking for a cozy cooking movie, this is the exact opposite.

For parents, this is a 'watch after the kids are in bed' pick. It’s raw, it’s loud, and it’s deeply tragic. While it’s highly enriching for a mature audience interested in technical filmmaking or social realism, there is zero 'safety' here for a younger or sensitive viewer.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. The combination of substance abuse, non-stop profanity, and the crushing weight of the themes makes it inappropriate for younger viewers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film depicts a toxic, high-pressure workplace filled with verbal abuse, substance use, and personal meltdowns. It is the opposite of 'relaxing' or 'emotionally healthy' for a younger audience.

Imaginative

Technically brilliant. It’s filmed in a single, continuous 90-minute take, which creates an immersive, claustrophobic atmosphere that feels incredibly real.

Safe

Constant profanity (hundreds of F-bombs), on-screen cocaine use, alcoholism, and a heavy focus on mental health crises and self-harm themes. Definitely not for kids.

Enriching

An incredible character study and a raw look at the service industry. It fosters deep empathy for workers and highlights the dangers of burnout and undiagnosed mental health issues.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Technical mastery in the form of a genuine one-shot film that never breaks away, pulling you into the chaos.
Stephen Graham's performance is a masterclass in portraying a man slowly losing his grip on everything.
Authentic grit that strips away the glamour of 'celebrity chef' culture to show the brutal reality of the line.
High stakes drama that turns a simple dinner service into a life-or-death thriller.

⚠

What to Watch For

The language is relentless; the F-word is used as punctuation in almost every sentence.
Scenes of cocaine use and heavy drinking are central to the protagonist's downward spiral.
The ending is heavy and involves a serious medical/mental health emergency that may be triggering.
The stress levels are dialed to an 11 for the entire runtime; it is not a casual or easy watch.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Andy feels like he has to carry all these burdens alone instead of asking his team for help?"
"How does the 'one-shot' filming style change how you feel while watching the movie compared to a normal film?"
"Which character did you feel the most for, and why is the service industry so prone to this kind of burnout?"
"Do you think the customers in the restaurant had any idea what was happening ten feet away in the kitchen?"

Deep Dive

The One-Shot Miracle

Most movies that claim to be 'one-shot' (like 1917 or Birdman) use clever editing to hide the cuts. Boiling Point is the real deal. Director Philip Barantini actually filmed the entire thing in four takes over two nights, and the third take is what you see on screen. This isn't just a gimmick; it creates a sense of momentum that is impossible to replicate with traditional editing. You are stuck in that kitchen with the staff, and there is no escape.

The Anti-Chef Table

In a world of polished Netflix documentaries about the 'art' of plating, Boiling Point is the much-needed antidote. It focuses on the logistics, the health inspectors, the demanding 'influencer' customers, and the internal politics that actually run a kitchen. Stephen Graham plays Andy with a vibrating intensity that makes you want to reach through the screen and give him a glass of water and a nap.

Why the Score is Lower

On a purely cinematic level, this is a 95. But on the WISE scale—which weights for things like 'wholesome' and 'safe'—it takes a massive hit. It’s a movie about a man’s life falling apart in real-time. It’s an essential watch for fans of gritty drama, but it's the furthest thing from family-friendly content you can find without venturing into horror.

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