Horror

Horror movie reviews

Krampus-Kids’ Movie Review

The Christmas season is a festive time of year to be with loved ones. However, for Max (Emjay Anthony), a pre-teen boy, things aren’t that wonderful. He misses the days when his family was happy and didn’t argue, but when he loses the Christmas spirit and has given up hope, Max’s world changes completely. Krampus, an enormous goat-like creature, and his creepy clan of toys, elves and gingerbread cookies arrive at Max’s house. His German Grandmother is familiar with the Krampus legend and says, “Krampus came not to reward, but to punish.” Not to give, but to take.” Now Max and his family must forget their differences and bond together to save one another and bring back the Christmas spirit.

Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Krampus is a strange but thought provoking Christmas film. The wise German Grandmother tells the family that Krampus took everyone in her family after WWII except her. She said, “He left me as a reminder of what happens when hope is lost, when belief is forgotten, and when the Christmas spirit dies.” Grandma also explains to the family that the true meaning of Christmas is to focus on others’ needs, not our own selfish desires. Great parent/child discussion.
Though there are some wonderful messages, the film is very dark and creepy. See violent content below:

Sexual Content: Mild

There’s a joke about squirrels “playing with their nuts.”

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A group of kids get into a fight wrestling and tackling one another.
Krampus is a very large and very creepy beast. When he invaded Max’s house, he brought with him evil stuffed animals and toys, creepy elves and wicked gingerbread cookies.
We see huge angels with bloody teeth, bears and clowns who try to devour the family. Sadly they do eat a child.
A baby is kidnapped.
Gingerbread cookies attack Uncle Howard with a nail gun.
A character is shown hanged by Christmas lights, then cut down.
The humans fight back and continuously shoot the evil creatures.
We see Krampus dropping two children into a deep fiery pit.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

The f-word is said twice. We also hear “sh-t,” “d–n,” “b–tard,” “a–,” “a–hole,” “d–k,” and “b–ch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

We see a teenage boy holding a Christmas bong.
Aunt Dorothy likes her alcohol. She shows three tweens how to make her favorite concoction of peppermint schnapps with hot chocolate; then offers the drinks to the tweens.

Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Krampus will appeal to kids that like horror films.

Overall Krampus is a scary and creepy horror film. However, there are some redeeming qualities and noteworthy messages for kids. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and crude language throughout the film. Depending on the child, Krampus is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

Moving to a new city can be difficult, especially for a teenage boy whose father had just passed away. Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) is upset about moving from New York City to a small town in Delaware. Though things quickly change when Zach meets his beautiful new neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush). Zach discovers that Hannah’s father is R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling “Goosebumps” series. Things get exciting when Zach accidentally releases the monsters from R. L. Stine’s novels. Now Zach’s boring small town becomes an adventurous city. Goosebumps is a thrilling Halloween film, especially for pre-teens.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

R. L. Stine, known as the “Stephen King of children’s literature,” is an author that kids and tweens are very familiar with. Goosebumps is a creative film, one that will most likely appeal to Stine’s fans. Parents need to be aware of the violent parts that will scare young kids.

Sexual Content: Mild

A teenage couple kiss.
Innocent flirting.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The first monster to escape is the Abominable Snowman. He destroys an ice rink’s scoreboard, a Zamboni and a vending machine. He chases some teenagers as well.
We see close-up of snarling werewolves, which may scare youngsters.
A werewolf chases a group of teenagers through a grocery store.
A praying mantis grabs a boy through a school window. Later we see him in a neck brace.
Humans fight with ceramic gnomes, smashing them to the ground.
A monster closes a typewriter case on Stine’s finger, breaking most of them.
Aliens freeze most of the townspeople.
We see a group of half-decomposed zombies at a cemetery.
A group of monsters attend a high school dance, scaring the students.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H—,” said once.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids like it? Yes

Overall this is a fun, though scary, Halloween film. Great for tweens who like scary movies.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

The Lazarus Effect-Teen Movie Review

The Lazarus Effect follows a group of medical students who are doing research… not to cure cancer or other life threatening diseases, but to bring back the dead. Initially they revive a deceased dog, however when they decide to resurrect a human, things don’t go so well. The woman comes back to life, but not the sweet person she once was. Now the students must figure out how to handle the consequences of a project they should never have begun.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 16, 2015
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:

Several of the medical students realize that trying to play God…isn’t the right thing to do.
The film is named after the Bible’s Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. This could spark an interesting parent/child conversation.

Sexual Content: Mild

Character’s are shown kissing.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

We see large needles injected into human heads and animal heads.
A character is crushed to death in a metal cabinet.
A woman kills someone by grabbing their head and squeezing it.
Someone dies by choking on an e-cigarette.
A woman is electrocuted, we see burns and welts on her ring finger.

Crude and Profane Language: Moderate

We hear the f-word. Also, “sh-t,” “a–,” “h–,” “d–n,” and “b–ch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see character’s smoking regular and e-cigarettes.
Characters are shown drinking wine.

Will it Appeal to Most Kids? Yes

I interviewed some pre-teens after the film, they love horror films so of course they liked this movie. However they were hoping it would be scarier.

The Lazarus Effect-Teen Movie Review

Vampire Academy-Kids Movie Review

At St. Vladimir’s Academy you won’t find the beloved Twilight vampires, Edward Cullen or Bella Swan, however you will find Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and her best friend Princess Lissa Dragomir. Rose is a dhampir, the half human, half vampire clan who protect the good vampires from the bad vampires. Lissa is a Moroi, the good vampires that can peacefully co-exist amongst humans. Then there are the Strigois, the evil vampires who drink to kill. Though you won’t find the Twilight vampires in this series, you will still find drama, romance and conflict between the good vampires vs. evil vampires. Vampire Academy, based on the young adult novel, “Vampire Academy,” is an action packed teenage drama.

Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 20, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

Talking Points:

There are some “mean girl” teenage issues in the film, however at the end of the movie a teenage girl delivers a speech to her classmates. She states the importance of being kind to one another and to let go of the petty behavior that was portrayed throughout the film.

Kids that have read the book will most likely enjoy the film…adults may want to catch another movie.

Sexual Content: Moderate

Teen couples are shown kissing and making out.
There are sexual references and discussions regarding losing ones virginity, wet dreams, a threesome and herpes.
We see Rose, wearing only a bra and underwear, in bed making out with a guy she has a crush on. He’s seen only wearing boxers.
Rose is labeled as a “blood whore.”

Violent Content: Excessive

There are numerous battles with gun shots, stabbings, punches, kicks and body slams.
We see the good vampires feed on humans. This is a little disturbing because the humans thought they were going to a blood drive. The vampires bite the humans’ wrists, sometimes leaving a little blood on their face.
We see vampire attacks, resulting in multiple casualties.
We hear someone’s leg breaking and another character’s neck being broken.
A mangled dead fox is shown hanging outside someones door.
A girl’s cat is killed, then put in her backpack.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

“B–ch,” “a–,” “d–n,” and “h–,’ are each said numerous times.

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

Vampires are shown drinking blood from wine glasses.

Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes

I interviewed four teenagers that had read the book. They all loved the movie and said it was similar to the book, though a little corny.

Overall this is an action packed film with romance and comedy permeated throughout the film. Depending on the child, this film is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Carrie-Teen Movie Review

Senior year is an exciting time for most high school students; with college visits, prom, and fun activities…life is good. However for high school senior Carrie White, school was not that great. She tried to fit in, but due to her strange and crazy mother, Carrie had a difficult time. She was continuously laughed at, mocked and ridiculed by her peers. Continue reading →