Sound of Metal – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Sound of Metal

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2019

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Punk drummer loses his hearing and finds something deeper than sound—but the F-bombs and adult themes make this strictly grown-up viewing.

7.7/10

97%

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Sound of Metal

movie

R, 2019

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Punk drummer loses his hearing and finds something deeper than sound—but the F-bombs and adult themes make this strictly grown-up viewing.

7.7

97%

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7.7/10

97%

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Screenwise Verdict

Sound of Metal is a masterclass in empathy-building filmmaking. It's not entertainment in the popcorn sense—it's challenging, sometimes uncomfortable, and deeply moving. The sound design alone is worth experiencing, and the exploration of deaf culture is revelatory for most hearing audiences.

But this is not family viewing. The R rating is well-earned through constant profanity, brief nudity, and intense thematic content around disability and addiction. Even mature teens might find it heavy.

For adults, though? This is essential viewing. It's the rare film that changes how you perceive the world, teaching you to listen differently—and to value stillness. Just watch it after the kids are in bed.

Age Fit

This is adult cinema, period. The 15+ Common Sense rating is technically accurate but optimistic—the relentless profanity and mature themes around addiction and identity make it better suited for older teens (17+) and adults who can handle heavy, contemplative drama.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Emotionally mature drama that handles disability, addiction recovery, and identity loss with dignity and respect. The relationship dynamics are complex but grounded—no cheap melodrama. However, the pervasive profanity (F-words throughout) and brief nudity lower the score for younger audiences. The film models resilience and community support in the deaf residential program, showing healthy coping mechanisms.

Imaginative

Brilliant sound design that literally puts you inside the protagonist's experience of hearing loss—innovative use of audio to create empathy. The film explores deaf culture and sign language in ways rarely seen in mainstream cinema. Visually inventive without being showy, using silence and muffled audio as narrative tools. This is creative filmmaking that expands how stories can be told.

Safe

Rated R for extensive profanity throughout (F-words are constant in the punk-metal world), brief full-frontal nudity, and a graphic cochlear implant surgery scene with blood. There's also heavy thematic content around addiction, relapse triggers, and existential crisis. Not appropriate for kids—this is firmly adult territory. Common Sense Media rates it 15+, but even that feels young given the language density.

Enriching

Profound exploration of identity, disability, acceptance, and what it means to let go. Offers rare, authentic representation of deaf culture and community. Raises questions about medical intervention vs. cultural identity (cochlear implants as 'fix' vs. acceptance). The film teaches empathy through its immersive sound design and Riz Ahmed's transformative performance. Adults will walk away thinking differently about disability, loss, and stillness.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Riz Ahmed's performance is Oscar-nominated for a reason—raw, physical, completely lived-in
Revolutionary sound design that creates genuine empathy for hearing loss experience
Authentic, respectful representation of deaf culture and ASL community
Tackles big questions about identity, acceptance, and what we lose when we try to fix everything
Not a feel-good disability movie—it's honest about the messy, non-linear path to acceptance

⚠

What to Watch For

Constant profanity throughout—this is the punk-metal world, so F-words are as common as drumbeats
Brief full-frontal nudity in an intimate scene early on
Graphic cochlear implant surgery with blood and medical detail
Heavy themes around addiction recovery, relapse triggers, and codependent relationships
The ending is ambiguous and contemplative, not wrapped-up-with-a-bow

Conversation Starters

"What do you think Ruben lost when he lost his hearing? What did he gain?"
"The deaf community in the film sees cochlear implants differently than Ruben does—why do you think that is?"
"How did the sound design make you feel during the scenes where everything goes muffled or silent?"
"Do you think Ruben made the right choice at the end? What would you have done?"
"What does it mean to be 'present' in the moment, like Joe teaches?"

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