Is it actually about cannibalism or is that a spoiler?

It's the central premise. The movie follows Justine's transition from a lifelong vegetarian to someone who craves human meat after a hazing ritual. It's not a 'twist'—it's the whole point of the story.

How bad is the gore, really?

It's significant. There are scenes of skin-biting, finger-eating, and surgical procedures. It uses very convincing practical effects that make the violence feel 'wet' and immediate rather than cartoonish.

No, it's a French-language film. You'll be watching with subtitles unless you're fluent in French. The visual storytelling is very strong, though, so you won't get lost.

Can a mature 15-year-old handle this?

Probably not. Beyond the gore, the sexual themes and the intensity of the hazing are very adult. This is one of those rare cases where the 18+ rating is actually a very good guideline.

Raw

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A vegetarian vet student discovers a literal hunger for human flesh in this stylish, visceral French horror masterpiece.

6.9/10

93%

76%

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Raw

movie

R, 2017

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A vegetarian vet student discovers a literal hunger for human flesh in this stylish, visceral French horror masterpiece.

6.9

93%

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93%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you're looking for a movie to watch with your kids, Raw is the nuclear option. It is a brilliant, 93%-rated critical darling, but it’s a horror movie about cannibalism. Unless your 'kid' is a 22-year-old film student, keep this one for your own late-night viewing after everyone else is asleep.

It’s stylish, French, and deeply disturbing. It’s one of the best horror movies of the last decade, but its 'Safety' and 'Wholesome' scores are in the basement for a reason. This isn't just 'spooky'—it's visceral, bloody, and intentionally upsetting.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults (18+). It is a 'New French Extremity' film, meaning it pushes the boundaries of gore and disturbing content. It is not a 'teen horror' movie like Scream or M3GAN; it is a serious, graphic art-house film.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a movie about a vegetarian becoming a cannibal. Hazing, body horror, and primal urges are the core elements here. It is the literal opposite of wholesome.

Imaginative

A wildly original, stylish take on the coming-of-age genre. It uses cannibalism as a visceral metaphor for awakening desire and identity in a way few other films have attempted.

Safe

Extreme gore, disturbing imagery, and sexual content. There are scenes involving self-mutilation and eating human remains that are genuinely difficult to watch for adults, let alone kids.

Enriching

For a mature, adult audience, it offers a deep psychological exploration of family legacy, peer pressure, and the transition into adulthood. It's high-art horror.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterful body horror that uses practical effects to create a visceral, stomach-churning experience for fans of the genre.
Deeply metaphorical storytelling that explores the messy, animalistic reality of growing up and breaking away from family expectations.
Incredible lead performance by Garance Marillier, who makes a potentially grotesque character feel sympathetic and grounded.
High-art style with stunning cinematography and a pulsing soundtrack that elevates it far above standard slasher fare.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'finger' scene is legendary for a reason—it is extremely realistic and will likely cause a physical reaction in even seasoned horror fans.
The hazing rituals at the vet school involve being drenched in blood and forced to eat raw offal, which is both visually and conceptually intense.
There is significant sexual content and nudity that is often tied to the protagonist's burgeoning cannibalistic urges, making it doubly uncomfortable.
The film features scenes involving animal carcasses and veterinary procedures that might be particularly upsetting for animal lovers.

Conversation Starters

"How does the movie use the idea of 'hunger' to talk about things other than food?"
"Why do you think Justine's sister reacts the way she does to Justine's transformation?"
"Is the hazing at the school a reflection of how the characters feel they have to act to survive in that world?"
"Does the family's strict vegetarianism make Justine's eventual 'break' more or less inevitable?"

Deep Dive

The Hunger is Real

Raw (or Grave in its original French) is a movie that made people faint in theaters when it first hit the festival circuit. Director Julia Ducournau didn't set out to make a cheap jump-scare fest; she made a movie about what happens when you finally stop suppressing your true nature. The problem for Justine, our protagonist, is that her true nature involves eating people.

Coming of Age, the Hard Way

The movie sits in that uncomfortable space where puberty and body horror meet. We've seen this before in movies like Ginger Snaps or Carrie, but Raw takes it to a much more literal, fleshy extreme. By setting it in a veterinary school—a place already defined by blood, carcasses, and a certain clinical coldness—the film creates an atmosphere where Justine's transformation feels almost inevitable.

Not Your Average Slasher

What makes Raw stand out is that it's actually a very good movie. It’s not just gore for gore’s sake. The relationship between Justine and her older sister Alexia is the real heart of the film—a twisted, competitive, and ultimately tragic bond. If you can stomach the visuals (and that's a big 'if'), you'll find a story that is surprisingly empathetic toward its 'monster.'

How to Handle It

If you have an older teen (17+) who is a serious horror buff and wants to explore international cinema, this might be a 'watch together and discuss' situation, but even then, you need to know your kid’s limits. This isn't a 'fun' horror movie; it’s a 'think about it for three days' horror movie. For everyone else? It’s a masterpiece that you should probably keep on your private watchlist.