Is there any actual footage of the crash?

Yes, there is surveillance footage of the car accelerating and the moment of impact. It’s not gory, but the sheer speed and the sound are incredibly disturbing.

Does it show autopsy photos or graphic injuries?

The film focuses more on the legal trial and the emotional aftermath. While the injuries are described in detail during medical testimony, it avoids showing gratuitous graphic imagery of the victims.

Is this a good 'teaching moment' for a new driver?

It’s a very intense one. It’s less about 'check your mirrors' and more about the psychological state and the absolute finality of a high-speed crash. It’s best for older, mature teens.

Is the movie biased toward the prosecution or defense?

It tries to present both sides, but given the overwhelming evidence presented in the real trial, the narrative naturally follows the prosecution's successful case for murder.

The Crash – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Crash

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-speed tragedy turns into a chilling courtroom drama that will make any parent want to take away the car keys for good.

92%

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The Crash

movie

R, 2024

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-speed tragedy turns into a chilling courtroom drama that will make any parent want to take away the car keys for good.

92%

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92%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you’re looking for a 'fun' family movie night, run the other way. The Crash is a surgical, often devastating look at the 2022 Ohio case where a 17-year-old was convicted of murder after driving her car into a brick building at 100 mph. It’s high-quality filmmaking, but it’s essentially a 90-minute warning label.

For parents of older teens who are starting to drive, this is actually a compelling watch to do together. It moves past the 'don't speed' clichés and enters the territory of accountability and the terrifying speed at which a life can be ruined. It’s not 'fun,' but it is undeniably impactful.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 15+ crowd. It’s a sophisticated, grim documentary that requires a level of emotional maturity to process the tragedy without just being traumatized by it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a heavy true-crime documentary about a fatal car wreck and a subsequent murder trial. It deals with death, grief, and the darker side of teenage decision-making.

Imaginative

As a documentary, its goal is reconstruction rather than creation. It uses surveillance footage and interviews to piece together a tragedy, which is gripping but not 'imaginative' in the creative sense.

Safe

The content involves the death of teenagers and a chilling legal case. While not a 'slasher' film, the emotional weight and the reality of the violence make it inappropriate for younger viewers.

Enriching

It offers a stark look at the legal system, the concept of 'intent' in criminal law, and the devastating ripple effects of reckless behavior. It’s a sobering reality check for older teens.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

High-stakes legal drama that pulls back the curtain on how 'intent' is proven in a murder case involving a vehicle.
Raw emotional honesty from the families involved, showing the long-term wreckage that happens after the sirens stop.
Critical acclaim for its pacing and structure, avoiding the usual true-crime fluff to focus on the facts of the Mackenzie Shirilla case.
Real-world consequences are on full display, making it a powerful (if brutal) conversation starter for new drivers.

⚠

What to Watch For

The surveillance footage of the crash is central to the case; while not gore-heavy, the impact is bone-chilling.
The toxic relationship dynamics between the teens are a major plot point and can be uncomfortable to watch.
The verdict and sentencing scenes are emotionally charged and might be a lot for kids who aren't ready for the finality of the legal system.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the prosecution argued this was murder rather than just a terrible accident?"
"How does the digital evidence—like TikToks or texts—change the way we look at someone's character in a trial?"
"Does seeing the impact on the victims' families change how you think about 'harmless' reckless driving?"
"What did you think about the defendant's behavior during the trial versus the evidence presented?"

Deep Dive

The Ghost in the Machine

True crime usually falls into two buckets: the sensationalist 'who-dun-it' and the somber procedural. The Crash leans heavily into the latter, focusing on the Mackenzie Shirilla trial. If you aren't familiar with the case, it’s the one where a teenager intentionally accelerated into a building to kill her boyfriend and his friend. It’s a premise that feels like a dark YA novel, but the documentary keeps it grounded in the sterile, cold reality of a courtroom.

What makes this worth your time—and potentially your teen's time—is the way it dissects digital footprints. The prosecution used the defendant's own social media and videos to establish a pattern of behavior and intent. In an era where every teen is documenting their life, this is a massive, real-world example of how that data can be used to build a narrative of 'who you are' in the eyes of the law.

Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) because it doesn't over-dramatize an already dramatic event. It lets the surveillance footage and the black-box data from the car do the heavy lifting. The audience score is lower (68%), likely because people looking for a 'Tiger King' style circus will find this too grounded and depressing. It’s a tough watch, but for a family with a kid who thinks they're invincible behind the wheel, it’s a necessary one.

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