Never Back Down

Why Is Never Back Down Rated PG-13?

The violent portrayals of mixed martial arts in this teen film include kicking, repeated punches, pain-inflicting holds and choking. Bloody injuries and lacerations along with the indication of injured ribs are shown. Posting these brawls on the Internet for entertainment is also portrayed. While combat clubs enforce some discipline on their students, the street fights and displays of road rage are complete free-for-alls with victims being slammed against the ground, into car mirrors or viciously kicked in the head. While most adults are either absent or ineffective in this film, the sponsors of underground fight contests will likely benefit from the promotion of this teen violence. Barely-clad teen females become little more than set decoration or sexual diversions for the boys, as when two girls are shown passionately kissing in a hot tub at a weekend party. A brief homosexual comment is made and a heterosexual teen couple is seen kissing and rolling (clothed) on a bedroom floor. Teens drink at a house party and also in a club setting. Repeated moderate expletives and a term of Deity are used in the script. During training, two boys drink raw eggs.