Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu about deadly hornets threatening bees and farms.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Attack of the Murder Hornets
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The camera crew in ATTACK OF THE MURDER HORNETS bravely follow the trail of deadly hornets as citizens, farmers, academics, and government officials doggedly set traps and search for hidden nests. At every turn, the hornet-pursuers are ready to run from the painful stingers and spraying venom they wield. The quest to cut off the invasive species before it can take hold in the Pacific Northwest is fraught with danger and full of unknowns. Looking for nests in the ground, they eventually find one hidden in a tree. The filmmakers capture remarkable footage of a Washington State wildlife guy trying to glue a monitoring device to one of the few hornets they've managed to capture. Without protective clothing and knowing the stings feel like hot metal injected beneath the skin, these determined detectives handle the scary-looking insects with care and appropriate fear. When a hornet equipped with an electronic monitor leads them to a nest, the find is momentous.
Is It Any Good?
Attack of the Murder Hornets is informative and often interesting, but at 86 minutes it's a repetition fest that would've been just as illuminating at half the length. We're told over and over how important are honeybees to the agricultural ecosystem and to the pocketbooks of beekeepers. We're told over and over how deadly and invasive the hornets are. We're told over and over of the damage they've done. We watch repeated trial and error attempts at gluing monitors to sedated hornets. Once would've been sufficient. The one time detailed explanations would've been helpful -- when men in protective suits go in at night to wrap the nest -- no one explains anything.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why people denigrate state government agencies who help find and kill the hornets.
Some people are sad about killing the destructive, deadly hornets. How do you feel about saving honeybees from them?
A man who works for the Washington State government feels good about the role he plays in helping beekeepers. Do you think he has reason to feel proud of the work he does? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 20, 2022
- Director : Michael Paul Stephenson
- Studio : Discovery+
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 29, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate