Hoppers (PG)
Age 7+
Delightful tale of animals, activism has a few scares
“Hoppers” is Pixar’s animated adventure about an animal-loving college student named Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) who discovers a secret experiment that lets her transport her mind into the body of a robotic beaver so she can try to save a local glade slated for destruction by the town’s mayor. Some action sequences, especially predator-and-prey moments, are played for humor, but a few scenes may frighten younger viewers, including a fast-spreading wildfire, destruction of habitats, animals in peril (and one getting squished), a very creepy unmasked humanoid robot, and a large, toothy shark that’s intent on attacking a human during an extended chase sequence. Mild language is limited to infrequent insults such as “stupid,” “jerk,” “loser,” “dumb,” “crazy” and “sucked,” as well as a use of the phrase “flock around and find out.” The story explores themes of activism, conservation and animal welfare, along with Mabel’s grief over the loss of a loved one. Families can use the film to spark conversations about environmental stewardship, animal protection and making change responsibly. (105 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Scream 7 (R)
Age 16+
Bloody slasher series probably should have stopped at 6
“Scream 7” is the first installment in the long-running horror series that’s directed by Kevin Williamson, who originally created the franchise in the 1990s. It returns the focus to original “final girl” Sidney (Neve Campbell), who must face yet another Ghostface killer with her teen daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). Violence is bloody and gory, with slashing and stabbing, entrails spattering onto the floor, a character’s face getting shot off, a character being impaled on a pointy beer tap, guns and shooting, women being slammed against walls and countertops and smashed through a pile of drinking glasses, someone getting burned alive, fighting, punching, jump-scares, dead bodies, dialogue about abuse and more. There’s also kissing, discussion about teen sex and other sex-related dialogue. Language includes “f–k,” “motherf—er,” “s–t,” “bulls–t,” “a–hole,” “bitch,” “Jesus,” “dumba–,” “butt,” “God,” “damn” and “hell.” Teens drink, and there’s a mention of teens doing “edibles.” (114 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Youngblood (PG-13)
Age 11+
Hockey drama remake has language, iffy racial optics
“Youngblood” — based on the same-named 1980s film — is a sports drama about a young Black hockey player named Dean (Ashton James) with a chip on his shoulder who learns to value teamwork and friendship. Expect scenes with fighting/injuries, racist aggression toward Dean by a White player (Dean is called “boy,” and monkey noises are made), and a scene implying that two characters had sex. (One is shown in underwear, the other in a bra.) Dean’s mother died when he was young, and he never fully processed the trauma. Language includes “s–t,” “a–hole,” “goddammit,” “hell” and more. Older teens drink beer. The film focuses heavily on themes of teamwork and friendship, but some viewers might feel that it’s stereotypical to have a Black male lead with anger issues navigating a mostly White environment. (105 minutes)
Available in theaters.
The Bride! (R)
Age 17+
Feminist fury surges in monster remake with nudity, gore
“The Bride!” is a pop-punk horror romance inspired by the 1935 monster movie “The Bride of Frankenstein.” Writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a voice to the previously silent female creature, making it clear that she was reanimated to become a monster’s lover without her consent. While “Frank” (Christian Bale) was crafted from the body parts of many men, the Bride (Jessie Buckley) is “reinvigorated” in one body but has two minds: that of compliant sex worker Ida, the body’s original inhabitant, and that of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, now an outspoken and outrageous spirit demanding agency. Gyllenhaal ratchets up the iffy elements of this classic story, recasting the pair as Bonnie-and-Clyde-like lovers on the lam: Expect intense violence, language and sex (with bare breasts, thrusting and licking). A nightclub scene shows a mostly nude woman sitting like a dog on the floor. There’s sexual assault with extreme close-ups of unwanted hands on a woman’s breasts and crotch, a face is stomped repeatedly until it becomes a meaty pulp, people are shot, other injuries and confrontations happen, and body parts (including a heap of disembodied tongues) are all over the place. Strobe lighting may affect photosensitive viewers, and vomiting is shown. Language is crude and constant, with use of “c–t,” “c–k,” “f–k” and much more, plus degrading sexual jokes about women. Heavy drinking leads to fatal consequences, and characters smoke (historically accurate for the 1930s setting). (126 minutes)
Available in theaters.
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