Clarence Book (PG-13)
An ambitious, violent, biblical satire on faith and race.
“The Book of Clarence” is a comic satire of the biblical epic, with sharp commentary on race, faith and tolerance. The book contains a lot of jokes and ideas that may seem impractical, but it is funny, daring and often exciting. There is some notable violence: a woman is stoned, a man is brutally flogged as he pulls a large wooden cross, one character is impaled with spears, people are crucified (mostly off-camera, but screaming is heard), and there is a lot of violence. Of blood, wounds, fighting and more. Characters also kiss and have joking sex-related dialogue, and women dance while wearing very little. The language includes the use of “motherf—er”, as well as uses of “s—“, the n-word, “damn”, “whore”, “b—–d”, and “dumba—” “. “And more. The main character is a “weed seller”, and there is frequent pot smoking throughout. In one scene, characters smoke from a hookah and float to the ground. Drinking is also implied or referenced. Led by black British writer-director James Samuel, it features a black cast Approximately how the story of Jesus became “white” almost by mistake (or perhaps by bias). (136 minutes)
Marvel’s sweeping but uneven series is characterized by extreme violence.
“Echo” is a Marvel television series that continues the story of the characters originally introduced in “Hawkeye.” It has mature content and frequent bloody violence. People are stabbed, shot, sliced, gasped, pooled with blood. Characters that viewers know are mercilessly killed, and the deaths can be sudden and intense. The main characters kill others without remorse; There is also a significant amount of hand-to-hand combat with several battle scenes, and characters are in frequent mortal danger. The expletives are not frequent but include uses of “–” and “hell.” The show centers around a deaf indigenous woman, Maya Lopez/Echo, who uses American Sign Language to communicate and uses a prosthetic leg and foot; Alaqua Cox, the actor who plays the character, also has these characteristics. Her Native heritage is woven into the narrative sympathetically and powerfully, and some scenes use an American Sign Language interpreter to help characters speak (and help audience members understand what’s being said). (Five episodes, 34-48 minutes)
Available on Disney Plus.
Boy Swallows the Universe (Unrated)
A coming-of-age tragic comedy series with lots of violence and drugs.
“Boy Swallows Universe” is an Australian series based on the book by Trent Dalton about Eli (played by Felix Cameron), a smart kid involved in the family business: drug dealing. Although this show revolves around a child narrator, it has a lot of adult content. Expect intense violence, from bloody prison yard brawls to the graphic dismemberment of a rat’s tail. Drugs and their effects are frequently present: the main characters sell drugs, specifically heroin, and some of them abuse them. Children are involved in selling drugs, and parents, like Travis Fimmel Lyle’s stepfather, are not positive role models. Frequent language includes “f—,” “s—,” “a—hole,” and “c—.” All of this is presented through a light comedic lens, but the themes are dark, and there are many intense moments. (Eight episodes, 60 minutes)
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