The 2008 indie time capsule
Sunshine Cleaning arrived right at the peak of the "quirky indie" boom. It sits in that specific cinematic neighborhood next to Little Miss Sunshine or Juno, where the color palette is slightly oversaturated and every character has a highly specific, slightly odd burden to carry. But where those movies often lean into whimsy, this one stays grounded in a much grimmer reality.
The film is less a comedy about a weird job and more a story about the exhaustion of being stuck. If you’ve ever felt the panic of needing to pivot your entire life to provide for your kid, the motivation here hits hard. It captures that specific American brand of desperation where starting a business involving crime scene remains feels like a logical, even hopeful, career move.
The "ick" factor is domestic, not theatrical
When you see "crime scene cleanup," you might expect CSI vibes or stylized action. This is the opposite. The "disturbing images" noted in the ratings are effective because they are so mundane. You aren't looking at a high-budget monster; you’re looking at a bloodstain on a floral rug or a ceiling that’s been ruined by a tragedy.
It’s the kind of gore that feels heavy rather than scary. For an adult audience, it’s a fascinating look at a niche profession. For a younger viewer, even one used to horror movies, the context of these scenes—suicide aftermath and lonely deaths—might be more upsetting than a typical jump-scare flick. The movie doesn't look away, and it doesn't turn the cleanup into a joke. It treats the mess with a level of reverence that makes the visual impact stick with you longer than you'd expect.
The sister dynamic vs. the "mess"
The real engine here isn't the biohazard business; it’s the chemistry between the two leads. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt play sisters who are essentially two different versions of failure. One is the "former prom queen" trying to scrub her way back to respectability, and the other is the "unreliable screw-up" who actually finds a strange calling in the work.
If you’re a fan of movies that explore the specific friction of adult siblings who love each other but can't stand each other's choices, this works. It’s a character study first and a plot-driven movie second. The subplots involving affairs and drug use (mostly pot) aren't there for shock value; they’re there to show how these women are trying to cope with a life that didn't turn out the way they planned.
How to think about this for older teens
While the verdict is clear that this isn't for kids, you might have a 16- or 17-year-old who is a "film kid" or a fan of the lead actresses. If they’ve already seen and liked something like Lady Bird or The Florida Project, they’ll recognize the DNA here.
However, be aware that the tonal shifts are much sharper. It can go from a quiet moment of sisterly bonding to a graphic shot of human remains in seconds. It’s a movie that demands a high level of emotional maturity because it doesn't offer easy wins or a "happily ever after" ending. It’s a movie about survival, and it’s as messy as the rooms they’re hired to clean.
