Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark offbeat horror comedy has gore, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Loneliest Boy in the World
What's the Story?
Set around Halloween in 1987, THE LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD finds loner Oliver (Max Harwood) tasked with making a friend in a week or being sent to an asylum. Luckily, his plan to dig up corpses pays off when his undead companions come to life.
Is It Any Good?
Delivered with charm and confidence by director Martin Owen, this is a pretty wild ride that draws from horror-comedy classics but manages to forge its own weird world. Admittedly an acquired taste, The Loneliest Boy in the World should please fans of the likes of An American Werewolf in London, Swiss Army Man, or Life After Beth.
A heady tone hangs over the movie and scenes flit between unsettling creepiness and hilariously poor taste. This is lively fantasy filmmaking, shot with flair to produce a confident vision made with a limited budget. The performances from the British and American cast are all enjoyable and help sell the fantastical story. While it starts to run out of steam by the end, the heartwarming message still lands.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether The Loneliest Boy in the World was scary. Did you enjoy the gory scenes? What's the appeal of scary movies?
What did you think of the movie's humor? Is death a suitable subject for jokes? Do you think any subjects are off limits?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 14, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : October 18, 2022
- Cast : Max Harwood , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , Ashley Benson
- Director : Martin Owen
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Well Go USA Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and violent content
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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