The Glass Castle-Kids’ Movie Review

“You learn from living.” That’s what Rex Walls (Woody Harrelson) tells his wife and children when his daughter asked why they don’t go to school. Rex loves his wife and four children more than anything. His dream is to build them a glass castle; a solar-powered, window filled home. He’s got the plans, and he even begins to dig a new foundation outside of one of their many run-down homes. Though nothing comes of his big dream. Rex is a big talker and he never lacks for a drink or cigarette. Sadly, his family most always lacks for food, running water, electricity and security. The Glass Castle is an intense drama based on Jeannette Walls’ best-selling memoir. It tells the story of a very dysfunctional family and how they survive living day to day.

Rating: 2. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 7, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There is an all-star cast. To name a few; Woody Harrelson, Brie Larson and Naomi Watts.
The children are very intelligent as they develop a love for reading and writing, however, they suffer from hunger, pain and other hardships.

Sexual Content: Mild

A man tries to force a woman into having sex.
The Walls’ parents are intimate with one another in front of their kids. We see them fully clothed on a bed passionately kissing.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A child’s clothes catch on fire as she’s trying to cook hot dogs.
There’s a constant threat of violence as you never know what Rex (the alcoholic father) will do next.
It’s noted several times that the children haven’t eaten and that they’re starving.
A child, who can’t swim, is thrown in a deep end of a pool. Her father is trying to teach her how to swim. This is an uncomfortable scene.
A man is punched.
The film is disturbing as we see how the young children are not taken care of properly by their parents.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “f–k,” “sh-t,” “a–,” “hell,” and “son of a b–ch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive

A character is an alcoholic. We see him drinking alcohol throughout the film and smoking cigarettes.
A character tries to quit drinking and we see him suffer through a painful detox.

Will Kids Like It? Yes