A Monster Calls-Kids’ Movie Review
Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall ) has one true friend, and that happens to be a monster (voice of Liam Neeson). Conor is a 12-year-old boy who has challenges unlike most young boys. Conor’s mom, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) is dying of cancer. Conor struggles as he tries to cope with the unbearable outcome, though he is repeatedly visited by a monster. This monster doesn’t come to attack Conor, he comes to comfort and counsel him by telling stories. The monster helps Conor through several stages of grief: denial, anger and ultimately acceptance. Set in present-day England A Monster Calls is based on the young adult novel; A Monster Calls.
Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 28, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Conor is bullied by kids at school. They repeatedly beat him up. Conor defends himself and punches a kid numerous times; sending him to the hospital.
- Conor has nightmares where he and his mom are in a graveyard. His mother falls down a deep hole and Conor fails to save her.
- The monster destroys property and in frustration Conor does as well. Conor trashes a room in his grandmother’s house. He also destroys her favorite heirloom.
- The monster tells Conor stories which we see via animation. One of the stories involves a king who is poisoned and a wife who is murdered.
- Though the monster can be very scary, he ultimately comes to comfort Conor.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “d–n.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking wine.
- We see Lizzie’s (Conor’s mom) collection of prescription drugs.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No
Overall A Monster Calls is a very sad and dark story. Parents need to be aware of the violent and disturbing content. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.
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