Horror

Horror movie reviews

Glass-Kids’ Movie Review

Superheroes are fictional character’s with different strengths and abilities when using their powers. Psychologist, Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), believes that some people actually think they have superpowers, though she claims it’s a result of a dysfunctional childhood. So, Dr. Staple gets an opportunity to work with three special subjects; a murderer with a variety of distinct personalities, a man who was nearly drowned as a boy and now thinks he’s indestructible, and Mr. Glass…a man with a bone disease who is extremely intelligent, but the most dangerous of them all. Glass is the third part of an intense trilogy; Unbreakable, which came out in 2000, and 2016’s sequel, Split.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 18, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Teenage girls are kidnapped and chained by their wrists in a creepy, abandoned warehouse.
There are fist fights, punching, and characters shot to death.
A character’s neck is sliced with broken glass, we see lots of blood.
A character takes a bite out of a victim. We don’t see the character taking the bite, but we see and hear him chewing and swallowing part of the victim, with blood all over his mouth.
We see a boy bullied, and nearly drowns to death.
There’s discussion of children being abused by adults.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “s–t,” “b–tard,” “bitch,” “ass,” “goddamn,” and “p—y,”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Character’s are shown drinking wine.

Will Kids Like It? No Overall, this is a creepy and dark movie. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

Escape Room-Kids Movie Review

“Where’s the key? What’s the four digit code?” These are some typical questions when people go to Escape Rooms. Escape Rooms are meant to be fun, team building, puzzle solving activities. The goal is to escape from a locked room through various questions while trying to crack the code. However, in the film Escape Room, it’s not a fun experience at all. In fact, the six strangers that enter the rooms all encounter dangerous situations from an extremely hot room to an upside-down pool hall. Some of the people in the group include an extremely intelligent college student, an Iraq vet, a grocery store employee who likes to party, and a stockbroker. They’re all very different people, but they must all unite and work together to survive and escape from the outrageously dangerous Escape Rooms.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 23, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

There are a couple of sexual innuendos.

Violent/Disturbing Content:

Characters are trapped in various rooms, and in peril throughout the film.
Characters are burned, tortured, poisoned, and crippled.
We see a character trapped under the ice in a lake.
Character’s are shot to death.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “f–k,” “ass,” “s–t,” “bitch,” “hell,” and “goddamn,”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Teenage characters are shown drinking while driving.
We see characters smoking.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two teenage boys who loved it.

Overall this is a scary, though entertaining film. Depending on the child, Escape Room is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween-Kids’ Movie Review

Halloween has come to life!!! Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is the story about best friends Sam Quinn (Caleel Harris) and Sonny Carter (Jeremy Ray Taylor). These two boys do everything together from studying to playing video games; they’re even bullied when they’re together. The boys unfortunately face many challenges as their lives dramatically change the day they encounter Slappy. Slappy is a ventriloquist dummy who comes to life. He has special evil powers as he magically makes Halloween decorations come to life. Mayhem ensues as the town is being destroyed by Slappy’s powers. It’s up to Sam, Sonny, and Sonny’s older sister, Sarah (Madison Iseman), to stop the creepy ventriloquist and the monsters he’s created. Based on R. L. Stine’s popular children’s book series…Goosebumps.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 12, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content:None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

A teen couple kiss.
A character cheats on his girlfriend.
An adult couple flirt with one another.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A ventriloquist dummy named Slappy is the villain. He is very creepy as he has special powers.
Halloween items come to life such as; ghosts, witches, pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, and monsters. Mayhem ensues causing much damage to the neighborhoods.
A gigantic spider made of balloons grabs people.
Gummy bears attack humans.
Three high school boys bully and threaten to beat up some of their peers.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “h–l,” “d–n,” “jerk,” “scumbag,” “losers,” and “idiot.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for kids ages 8 and up. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and moderate profane language.

The House with a Clock in its Walls-Kids’ Movie Review

“There’s no bedtimes, no bathtimes or mealtimes in this house,” declares Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) to his nephew Lewis. When Lewis is 10 years-old he is sent to his Uncle Jonathon’s house in New Zebedee, Mi. Sadly, Lewis’ parents had died in a car crash and he had no where else to go. Lewis had never even met this uncle, and quickly realizes that he is a very strange man who lives in a very creepy old mansion. Lewis eventually learns that Uncle Jonathan and his energetic neighbor and best friend, Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), have magical powers and are a warlock and witch. Lewis’ life dramatically changes as a new and scary world becomes part of his day to day life. Based on a classic children’s novel, The House with a Clock in its Walls.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 18, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Kids at Lewis’ school talk about a murder at Uncle Jonathon’s house. The house definitely looks haunted as it’s filled with scary toys, dolls, and furniture that comes to life; threatening Lewis and his uncle.
There’s a devil cuckoo clock, and an ominous ticking sound coming from the walls.
A witch disguises herself as a sweet person though she ultimately wants to trick someone.
An evil couple wants to destroy the world.
The house starts to fight against the good witch and warlock characters.
Lewis gets punched in the stomach by a bully.
Lewis is locked in a cage with swords pointed towards him.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “h-ll,” and “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a action packed drama that may frighten young kids. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Winchester-Kids’ Movie Review

Are haunted houses real? Winchester, set in 1906 San Jose, Ca, follows the life of rifle heiress Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren). After Sarah inherits her husband’s profitable rifle company she’s determined to build a mansion. After all, many people have died by the Winchester guns, so this is her way of dealing with the ghosts of those who have passed. Things get complicated when the board of the Winchester Rifle Co. hires Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) to evaluate Sarah’s psychological state. When Dr. Price interviews Sarah he discovers that’s she’s spunky and clever. Price eventually realizes that Sarah Winchester talks to spirits and that her seven story mansion, filled with hundreds of rooms, are actually built for the victims of the Winchester guns. Price learns that Sarah Winchester’s ghosts are real… and so is her haunted house. Winchester is based on true events.

Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 1, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a male character with three women; he’s shown kissing each of them. It’s implied that they might be prostitutes.
A woman’s naked back is shown.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There’s some gun violence. One scene shows a flashback of a mass killing.
A child is possessed by a spirit and is shown shooting a woman. He also jumps off a house ledge.
A painting appears to bleed.
There are several ghosts in creepy scenes.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “b–ch” said once.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

A main character has a drug and alcohol problem. He frequently ingests drops of laudanum from a glass dropper. He also drinks from a flask, and enjoys drinking whisky at home.

Will Kids Like It? No

I interviewed some teens who thought the film wasn’t that scary and even somewhat boring.

Overall this is a horror film based on true events. Parents need to be aware of the violence and drug and alcohol contents.