Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

13 reviews

mint_frog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A haunting read. I've seen this play performed in a theatre some years ago, but the emotions are the same even just from reading it, which comes as a big surprise.

I can't form any coherent thought about themes and meanings at this point, but I'm sure this play is going to stay with me for a while. This is true art - it penetrates the skin and settles deep within you.

This play is masterfully written and keeps being funny even amongst all of the morbid details of the described situation. It never feels boring or dry, and the few characters feel alive and distinct.

In conclusion, I am in awe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Police brutality

Moderate: Suicide, Ableism, Torture, Murder, and Child death

Minor: Rape, Car accident, and Pedophilia

patchworkjester's review

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Favourite modern play I've read thus far- shame I couldn't see it performed! It truly seems like a once in a lifetime experience and even just reading it is a truly harrowing experience. While it definitely isn't for the feint of heart, it's something I would highly recommend to people who enjoy dark and twisted stories that mess with your mind a bit along the way.

While the actual murders are never explicitly described, rather being told through the in-universe short stories that inspired them, even just the implications snapping into place is a mortifying feeling. The twist near the end, too, is simultaneously shocking and fantastically set up in prior scenes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, and Torture

Moderate: Suicide, Confinement, Blood, and Ableism

Minor: Incest, Rape, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, and Gun violence

piepatch's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Suicide, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Ableism, Blood, Confinement, Racism, Bullying, Cursing, and Xenophobia

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Rape, Antisemitism, and Car accident

lief_'s review

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcoholism

ebunk's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Police brutality, Ableism, Child death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Blood, and Death of parent

milesjmoran's review

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Torture, Incest, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts

bchallis's review

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Murder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide

burgundy_fairy's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault

metchap's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Torture

oliviareese's review

dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault