Why is “The Room Next Door” rated PG-13? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “thematic content, strong language, and some sexual references.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes an implied sex scene, discussions of sex with multiple partners, a man describing a sexual relationship with another man, a man dying in a house fire, a woman dying from cancer, many discussions of cancer treatment and death, several arguments about pursuing medical treatments, many discussions of euthanasia, and at least 2 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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When a woman (Tilda Swinton) dying from cancer, asks an old friend (Julianne Moore) to just be in the next room when she decides to take her life, the issues of both the ethics and legality of euthanasia, as well as their personal history become central to their time together. Also with John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola and Melina Matthews. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. [Running Time: 1:47]

The Room Next Door SEX/NUDITY 3

 – A man and a woman kiss passionately and lie back on a sofa (sex is implied). A man and a woman kiss. Two men hug tenderly.
► A trainer tells a woman that he wants to give her a hug, but that the company policy prohibits touching clients. A man talks about himself and a woman drinking, taking drugs and having sex. People talk about sex being the best way to fend off thoughts of death. A woman talks about all the men that she has loved. Two women talk about sharing a lover. A man talks about another man being his lover. A woman tells a man that she is pregnant. A woman describes a man as being a passionate and enthusiastic lover.
► A woman wears a low-cut top that reveals cleavage.

The Room Next Door VIOLENCE/GORE 3

 – A man enters a house engulfed in flames saying that he hears someone calling for help from inside; a woman tries to stop him, he enters the building and we later see his body in a body bag being wheeled out on a stretcher by firefighters. A woman finds another woman lying motionless on a lounge chair and calls her name without a response.
► A woman is shown with an IV in several scenes and she discusses an experimental treatment, an immunotherapy treatment and chemotherapy. We hear that a woman is in the hospital for cancer treatments; she tells a woman later that it is stage 3 cervical cancer. A woman says that her cancer treatment did not work and that it has metastasized and spread to her liver. A woman says that she is preparing for death and that she is ready to die in several scenes. A woman says that her illness is incurable. A woman talks about the body dying before the brain. A woman talks about suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy. A woman says that she has acquired a euthanasia pill from the dark web. A woman talks about wanting to end her life rather than proceed with cancer treatments. A man describes hallucinating about war after returning from Vietnam. A woman describes a man having gone to war in Vietnam and returning a damaged person. A woman complains that her memory is failing after cancer treatments. A woman describes war as a “guys’ thing.” A woman describes being estranged from her daughter and that she was not a good mother to her. A woman asks to watch a movie titled “The Dead.”
► A woman gags and vomits into a sink (we see goo) after finding a door closed and thinking that the woman in the room is dead. A woman yells and throws things when she realizes that she has forgotten something. Two women root through drawers and closets searching for a pill.
► A man in a silent movie is chased by many women and runs down a hill dodging numerous boulders.

The Room Next Door LANGUAGE 5

 – About 2 F-words, 4 sexual references, 1 scatological term, 1 anatomical term, 2 mild obscenities, name-calling (guinea pig, insane, honey, inhumane, horrified, chemo brain, coward, unfair, sad, religious fanatic), 6 religious exclamations (e.g. oh my God, oh God, God, Jesus). | profanity glossary |

The Room Next Door SUBSTANCE USE

 – A woman is shown with an IV in a hospital, a woman has an injection into her IV line and we understand that it is a sedative, a woman says that she has acquired a euthanasia pill, a woman takes a sedative, a woman has several prescription medicine vials in a drawer and describes one as a sedative, a man talks about himself and a woman drinking, taking drugs and having sex, and a woman says that she is turning into a junkie. A man and a woman drink whiskey on a plane, a woman drinks a glass of wine, and a man and a woman drink glasses of wine.

The Room Next Door DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Cancer, experimental cancer treatments, euthanasia, suicide, fear of death, control, estranged families, self-pity, career vs. motherhood, resentment, Vietnam War, PTSD, neoliberalism, hope, faith, the dark web, climate change, danger, war reporting.

The Room Next Door MESSAGE

 – Death is never easy, especially for those who are left behind.