As the release of 50 Shades of Grey approached, many parents understandably sought guidance on its suitability for younger audiences. This guide aims to provide a clear and objective overview of the sexual content present in the film, helping parents make informed decisions for themselves and their teenagers. Understanding the level and nature of mature themes is crucial, and this guide breaks down the key categories of content viewers can expect.
Understanding the Sexual Content in 50 Shades of Grey
50 Shades of Grey is explicitly focused on the developing relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, and a significant portion of this relationship revolves around sexual exploration and BDSM practices. The film contains numerous scenes depicting nudity, sexual activity, and related themes. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
Nudity
The film features prevalent nudity, both male and female.
- Full Frontal Nudity: While explicit depiction of genitalia is generally avoided, the movie does include brief glimpses of female genitalia and significant exposure of buttocks and breasts. One scene explicitly shows a woman lying nude with her shaved pubic area and vagina lips visible. Full frontal nudity is depicted in a bedroom scene where a couple is completely nude, although the camera avoids direct focus on the crotch.
- Rear Nudity: Several scenes show both male and female characters fully nude from the back, providing clear views of buttocks and backs.
- Partial Nudity: Frequent scenes include women nude from the waist up, often in close-up, facing the camera, highlighting breasts and cleavage. Men are also often shirtless, and in one instance, a man’s jeans are low enough to reveal his upper pubic area.
Sexual Activity & Simulated Sex
The movie portrays various instances of sexual activity, ranging from implied encounters to more explicit depictions.
- Explicit Sex Scenes: One scene features a detailed depiction of sexual intercourse. It begins with a woman revealing her virginity, followed by a scene in a bedroom where both individuals undress completely. The scene includes kissing of inner thighs, full nudity (excluding crotch), body kissing, and thrusting motions accompanied by moans and writhing. The camera angle shifts to show the man’s bare back and buttocks thrusting in a ceiling mirror, providing a clear visual representation of sexual activity.
- Implied Intercourse and Foreplay: Other scenes depict implied sexual encounters. For example, a scene shows a man throwing a woman onto a bed, removing her clothing, and blindfolding her before engaging in intercourse. While the scene cuts away, thrusting motions and gasping sounds are audible, clearly indicating sexual activity. Another scene shows a couple having sex on a couch, depicted from behind the couch, showing thighs moving until interrupted.
- Passionate Kissing and Caressing: Numerous scenes throughout the film showcase passionate kissing, often lasting several seconds and involving tongue contact. Caressing of lips and faces is also frequent, emphasizing the physical intimacy between characters.
- Bathroom Scene: A scene in a bathroom shows a bare-chested man and a fully nude woman (from the back) in a bathtub. The scene depicts them sitting together, with the woman topless and the man dribbling water on her chest, further highlighting sexual undertones.
- Elevator Scene: A passionate encounter in an elevator involves a man backing a woman against a wall, holding her hands above her head, and kissing her intensely with tongue contact, emphasizing the film’s consistent portrayal of physical and sexual attraction.
BDSM Themes and Bondage
A significant aspect of 50 Shades of Grey revolves around BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism) themes, which are visually and thematically present throughout the film.
- Bondage and Restraint: Multiple scenes depict bondage. A recurring motif involves a man using neckties or red ropes to tie a nude woman’s hands above her head in bed, sometimes attaching them to the headboard or bed frame. Ankles are also tied to the foot of the bed in some scenes, and blindfolds are frequently used.
- Dominance and Submission: The power dynamic inherent in BDSM is explored visually and through dialogue. One scene shows a man smelling a woman’s panties and then placing them down the back of his jeans before manacling her wrists to an overhead frame. The use of a riding crop is shown as he tickles her body and then slaps it against her rib cage and buttocks, causing her to gasp, illustrating the dominant/submissive dynamic.
- Spanking and Corporal Punishment: Scenes depict spanking as part of the BDSM activities. In several instances, a man turns a woman over his knee and spanks her bare buttocks with his hand or a riding crop. One scene shows a riding crop hitting a woman’s bare buttocks in close-up, and another depicts a man hitting a woman’s buttocks with a heavy lash while she counts and cries.
- Sensory Play and Teasing: The film includes sensory play elements. One scene shows a woman blindfolded and handcuffed to a headboard. A peacock feather and a many-tailed flog are drawn across her legs and breasts, with light slapping of the abdomen, suggesting sexual stimulation without explicit depiction.
- Ice and Wine Play: A bedroom scene includes a man spitting wine into a woman’s mouth and then using an ice cube in his mouth to rub along her lips, chest, nipples, and abdomen, showcasing a sensual and unconventional form of intimacy.
- Red Room of Pain: The film visually introduces a “Red Room of Pain,” a dedicated space for BDSM activities. The room is depicted with red upholstery, a red leather headboard, a ceiling mirror, and various BDSM implements. These include manacles, handcuffs, flogging canes, riding crops, many-tailed flogs, leather straps, and spanking paddles, visually emphasizing the BDSM themes central to the narrative.
- Contract Negotiation: A scene shows the characters discussing and negotiating a BDSM behavioral contract. This includes discussions about acceptable devices, oral contraceptives, and the woman’s hesitation about agreeing to all sexual activities requested by the dominant partner, including “anal fisting” and “vaginal fisting,” terms she is unfamiliar with.
Dialogue and References
Beyond visual depictions, the dialogue also contributes to the mature nature of the film.
- Sexual Innuendo and Explicit Language: The dialogue includes sexually suggestive language, such as a man telling a woman he would like to “[F-word deleted] you into the middle of next week.”
- Discussions of Sexual History and Preferences: Characters discuss past sexual experiences, including a man’s past as a submissive and his serial relationships with submissive partners. The film also touches upon themes of sexual abstinence and the use of oral contraceptives in relation to sexual activity.
- Prostitution and Seduction: References are made to a man’s mother being a prostitute and his seduction by an older woman at age 15, which initiated his involvement in BDSM.
Is “50 Shades of Grey” Appropriate for Teens? (Parental Guidance)
Given the detailed breakdown of sexual content, nudity, and BDSM themes, 50 Shades of Grey is unsuitable for young teenagers and younger children. The film is clearly intended for mature audiences due to its explicit sexual nature and thematic exploration of BDSM.
For older teenagers, parental guidance is strongly advised. Parents should consider the maturity level of their teens and engage in open conversations about the film’s content beforehand. It’s important to emphasize that the film portrays a specific and often idealized depiction of BDSM, which may not accurately reflect real-world relationships or healthy sexual practices.
Ultimately, 50 Shades of Grey is a film with significant mature content. This guide is designed to equip parents with the necessary information to make informed decisions about its appropriateness for themselves and their families.
