The Maze Runner-Children’s Movie Review

He woke up confused and in a state of amnesia. That’s how Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) felt when he found himself in a different world. A world governed by a group of teenage boys and surrounded by four walls. If you stay within the walls, and follow the leader’s rules, life is good and you’ll be safe. However when Thomas decides to explore and walk through a large gate, his life changes forever. This gate leads him into a maze, one filled twists and turns and scary creatures. Can this maze take him back home or is there no way out? The Maze Runner is an action packed suspenseful film, based on a young adult novel by James Dashner.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 16, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

Talking Points:

Thomas is a great character. First off, he risks his life to save a suffering boy, while others abandon the boy. Thomas is a good guy, who leads the group to do the right thing.

There are a lot of intense, dark scenes which may scare kids. See details below.

Sexual Content: None

Violent Content: Excessive

The creatures (named The Grievers) in the maze are large, mechanical, slimy monsters. They attack humans while making loud, growling noises.
The Grievers inject poison into the humans, which makes the humans go crazy, turning their veins black.
A woman commits suicide by putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger.
The boys fight and hit one another. Sometimes it’s an organized fight, other times it’s a chaotic out of control brawl.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate