Wildwood (PG-13)
Age 11+
Stunning stop-motion fantasy can be violent and intense.
This epic stop-motion fantasy film — based on Colin Meloy’s 2011 children’s novel — follows 13-year-old Prue (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her friend Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) on a journey into a magical forest to rescue Prue’s kidnapped baby brother. Expect intense violence and peril, including battles, chases, explosions and warlike imagery. Several characters are killed, sometimes bloodily, and dead bodies are visible throughout. Disturbing scenes include an apparent suicide, a mother holding her dead child’s body, a decapitation, an impaling and an endangered baby crying and screaming. There’s also nonsexual partial nudity (a boy’s chest, legs and backside are visible), brief kissing and a coyote licking himself between the legs. Language includes one use of “son of a b—-,” plus “screw” and “oh my God.” Characters drink alcohol and use a sleep-inducing tea. The movie explores themes of courage, curiosity, perseverance and teamwork. (132 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Clayface (R)
Age 16+
Comic book body horror flick offers skin-deep revenge thrills.
The famous comic book villain centers the story in the latest DC Universe movie. When actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) loses his career because of severe facial injuries, an experimental treatment gives him the ability to turn into clay and imitate others. The result is a violent, bloody body horror movie, with many close-ups of Matt’s body being mutilated or warped in potentially disturbing ways. In his quest for revenge, Matt also turns into a weapon that cuts, bashes and rips his victims apart (in creative but horrifying ways). People make out and have sex, with full-frontal female nudity. Adults drink alcohol and take pills. Strong language includes “f—,” “s—” and “a–hole.” (108 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Klara and the Sun (PG-13)
Age 11+
Taika Waititi keeps it light in bittersweet artificial intelligence comedy.
Director Taika Waititi’s latest movie adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s same-named novel about a world in which humanistic robots are sold as companions for teenagers. The film centers on solar-powered android Klara (Jenna Ortega), who’s chosen as a friend for chronically ill Josie (Mia Tharia). Robots are beaten, drowned, run over and insulted, and one self-harms. There’s also a car crash. Signs of illness include a seizure and a bloody nose, and a robot humorously vomits water. There’s a use of “f—ing,” plus “s—,” “a–,” “goddammit” and “oh my God.” An adult drinks wine and comments that she’s “hammered.” A female android dances above a sign that reads “ho-bot.” Robots desperately wish to find a home, making the store that sells them feel more like an orphanage. (116 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Street Fighter (PG-13)
Age 13+
Hit-and-miss video game adaptation has violence and language.
The latest movie based on the Capcom video game series follows fighters in a tournament with massive stakes. Expect lots of martial arts fighting, with punching, kicking and choking. People are smashed through walls, slammed against concrete and thrown into a burning fireplace. There also are wounds, burns and broken limbs. Objectified women wear revealing outfits, and a man’s naked bottom is seen in a comic context. Swearing includes one use of “f—,” as well as “s—,” “a–hole,” “goddamn,” “b—-,” “d—” and “Christ.” There’s also a middle-finger gesture, and characters drink (sometimes to excess). (119 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. Go to commonsense.org for age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites and books.
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