HANNA
A violent, cryptic thriller that loses its way.
Should You Watch It?
HANNA begins with an intriguing premise and holds your attention. A teenage girl has been trained by her father to become a lethal killer while they hide from a CIA team. The film has mystery, chase scenes and a promising central question: what kind of person has this father created in his daughter?
But the movie loses its way in the second half. Its explanation for the conflict is mundane and uninteresting, and the violent ending is depressing, repetitive and still leaves questions unanswered. The quirky music in the resolution only makes the conclusion more annoying.
The film also carries strong violence, profanity, smoking, upper male nudity and sexual material involving teenage girls. For your time and conscience, skip it.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHanna is a teenage girl living with her father, Erik, in a snowbound forest cabin. He has trained her for something dangerous while they hide from the authorities.
The authorities are led by Marissa Wiegler, a ruthless CIA agent. When Hanna decides she is ready to leave, she sets events in motion that send her across the Moroccan desert and toward Berlin, while assassins pursue her and her father.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means HANNA has a promising beginning but fails to deliver in the second half. The opening holds one’s attention, and the film’s central mystery gives the thriller a strong setup. The chase scenes, fighting and pursuit by assassins provide momentum.
The film then drops the ball. Its explanation for why Marissa wants Hanna and Erik dead is mundane and uninteresting. The violent ending is depressing and repetitive, leaves questions unanswered, and is accompanied by annoying drumbeat music and a quirky pop song that makes no sense. The movie needs a major rewrite.
The Worldview
HANNA presents a strong kill-or-be-killed humanist worldview, with some moral elements in a father trying to protect his daughter from assassins. However, that truth is not what it seems, and the story’s resolution is depressing. One guard hides and prays, “Lord help me,” and survives.
The film presents the CIA as the enemy, creating strong anti-American content. Its CIA leader seems corrupt and keeps subordinates in the dark. Meanwhile, Erik trains his daughter in lethal ways of killing so she can assassinate her enemy before the enemy kills her. The film also includes a teenage girl considering whether she might become a lesbian, followed by a kiss between the two girls.
The story’s treatment of parental protection and moral formation is distorted by teaching a daughter to kill rather than guiding her toward righteousness. Scripture gives parents a different charge: “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong kill-or-be-killed humanist worldview with some moral elements of father trying to protect his daughter from assassins, but this truth is not what it seems and the story’s resolution is depressing, one guard hides and prays, “Lord help me,” and he survives, strong Anti-American content as CIA is the enemy, and new teenage friend of teenage heroine ponders becoming a lesbian and later the two girls talk in camper under covers and one kisses the other before she leaves; nine obscenities (including two “f” words), one strong profanity and two light profanities; some very strong violence includes deer shot with arrow then gun, men killed, man tortured, teenage girl snaps woman’s neck, chase scenes, fighting, gun battle, men fight using martial arts, assassins, car crashes after woman fires into car, character shot with arrow and then gun, assassin killed with a pipe to his chest, another character shot to death; no sex scenes but teenage girls makes a silly comment about perhaps becoming a lesbian; upper male nudity; no alcohol; smoking; and, CIA leader seems to be corrupt and keeps subordinates in the dark, “father” instructs daughter in lethal ways of killing so she can assassinate her enemy before the enemy kills her (reasons are later revealed but they don’t make much sense), and heroine sneaks across border by hiding in family’s van but not telling them.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
What is the difference between protecting someone and training that person to harm others?
Psalm 34:14 · Romans 12:17–21How should we respond when a story presents killing as the only possible answer?
Exodus 20:13 · Matthew 5:9What does Scripture say about forming a child’s character and teaching wisdom?
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 · Proverbs 22:6Why does a depressing ending matter when a story deals with violence, justice and survival?
Philippians 4:8 · Romans 15:13The Final Word
HANNA has a promising setup, but its second half collapses into a mundane explanation, depressing violence and unanswered questions. Its content also makes it unsuitable for children and young teens. For a better family choice, see. SKIP IT.
