Parents' Guide to

Against the Wild

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Unexciting adventure film about lost kids has mild peril.

Movie PG 2014 92 minutes
Against the Wild Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Vaughn B.
Vaughn B. Adult
January 23, 2017
age 5+

Against The Wild

This movie is actually pretty great. I'm a boy and think the actor for Hannah ( Erin Pitt ) is cute, and the actor for Zach ( CJ Adams ) is very cool. People should know that Hannah has to fight wolves, a bear, and her own mother on some things. The movie is only a little intense, but all families should watch it. The father and mother go through divorce, which is hard for the kids. Both kids are SUPER smart and witty when their plane crashes in the forest when they try to go visit their dad. This my favorite movie of all time, and I hope others enjoy it as much as I do.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
avirawenn
avirawenn Adult
January 4, 2017
age 6+

Waste of time

This was a complete waste of time for the people who made this and for the people watching. For an example of this movie imagine young teens using an iphone to record a cheesy dumb movie. -Kid Review (10 years old.)
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Zach (CJ Adams) and Hannah (Erin Pitt) are lost in the woods after their small plane crashes en route to visit their dad, the supervisor at a remote mine. The pilot is injured in the accident, and the kids set off to find help with only their dog, Chinook, for protection in AGAINST THE WILD. While the kids find themselves threatened by both the elements and some dangerous wildlife, their parents organize a search party and must come to terms with the fact that two young kids are hard to find in a very large forest.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (6):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Zach and Hannah are appealing characters, and Chinook is a beautiful beast, and, let's face it, it's nearly impossible to watch two kids lost in the wilderness without feeling some kind of emotion. But all that's not enough to make Against the Wild an entertaining film. The acting is stiff, the dialog is hokey, and the children make one rookie survival mistake after another. There are so many gaping plot holes not to notice -- at one point Hannah is too injured to walk, but moments later is seen running and jumping.

Their parents don't have much to do other than look worried. Scene after scene is filled with predictable lines and uninspiring heart-to-heart conversations. Young children may find some parts of the movie entertaining, or they may relate to the young leads, but most other viewers will be disappointed.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Zach and Hannah's decisions. Do you think they make smart choices when faced with a survival situation?

  • How do Zach and Hannah's parents react to the news that their children are missing? How do they weather the crisis, and how does it affect their relationship with each other?

  • What would you do if you got lost or separated from your family? Talk about possible choices, or read more about survival techniques.

Movie Details

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