Tools for this page
Print

Dark Days in Monkey City

(Rated TV-14, Reality TV, Starring John Rhys-Davies, Where to watch: Animal Planet)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Docuseries veers more toward frightening than informative.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The show captures the normal/natural behavior of its primate subjects -- which in many cases is constant fighting. The conflict and violence aspects of the serires are played up in the voice-over narration.

  • Violence:

    There's no evil intent here -- all of the fighting is natural behavior for these animals. But they do fight constantly, sometimes to the death (in one episode there were at least three separate shots of dead monkeys, two of them of babies). The violence is emphasized with the use of red "blood" splatter graphics during the opening credits, plus occasional shots of bleeding monkeys.

  • Sex:

    This is the natural world -- there's some mating going on, even if it's not usually seen.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dark Days in Monkey City

Parents need to know that this isn't a warm, fuzzy Animal Planet series. The featured primates aren't nice, happy little monkeys -- they're seriously mean, and the narration's tendency to give them personalities and motivations makes them seem even meaner. They fight constantly, sometimes to the death -- it's all natural behavior, but it can gert pretty intense (sometimes even bloody). Animated graphics also include blood "splatters." Bottom line? Teens and mature tweens should be able to handle this look at the darker side of nature, but it's too intense and scary for little kids.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what they think this series is trying to accomplish. Is it trying to educate and inform or shock and entertain? Or both? Does editing the monkey footage together in a way that creates a narrative help viewers understand the animals or make it harder? Why? Families can also discuss using animation as part of a documentary. Does it help tell the story more accurately or obscure what's going on?
Tools and tips that can help

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Dark Days in Monkey City?

  •  I think this show is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Age 6+
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Issue Spotlight

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Set limits long before they get behind the wheel.

  • Book of the Week

    Age 10+
    Million-Dollar Throw

    Million-Dollar Throw

    Another Lupica sensitive dad/son sports story.

  • Pick of the Week

    Holiday Websites

    Holiday Websites

    Where to surf, turkey time and beyond.

  • Game of the Week

    Age 8+
    LEGO Rock Band

    LEGO Rock Band

    Simplified, no-fail Rock Band with a whimsical story.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
(It's free!)

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.