Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly screamer has bite; graphic animal attacks, drug use.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Coyotes
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
After a big storm takes out the power in most of Los Angeles, neighbors in the Hollywood Hills notice that the coyotes that roam at night are acting strange. When a wildfire threatens their property, Scott (Justin Long), Viv (Kate Bosworth), and their teen daughter, Chloe (Mila Harris), must evacuate their home and face the vicious pack to fight for their survival.
Is It Any Good?
This horror howler has teeth when it comes to entertaining a group of teens looking for something to laugh and scream at together. Satirizing "animal attack" films and mixing giggles with gore, director Colin Minihan creates a very L.A. story in Coyotes: Coyotes definitely do wander the hills and mountains of Los Angeles, often looking for food, and daytime sightings are increasing. Residents know better than to leave small pets outside; an unattended teacup pup is all too likely to become a coyote canapé. Losing power after the Santa Ana winds kick up? Also quite normal. And Scott and Viv's neighbors are cartoonish but not unlike the kind of folks you might find living in the celebrity-filled Hollywood Hills.
All of this reality plays into an intentionally wacky storyline—but it also puts a muzzle on the movie's making an actual statement about why coyotes might fight back against humanity. Like, say, because of habitat loss (let's hope they never unionize with mountain lions and bears). For older teens looking for something wild to watch with friends, Coyotes delivers a bite-sized blast of bloody fun. To call it "good" would be a stretch—but is it primed to become a cult classic? Absolutely.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Coyotes. Did you find it realistic? Why, or why not? How did it make you feel? Do different types of movie violence have different impact?
Similarly themed movies like The Birds imply the attacks rather than show them, but they also didn't have the special effects necessary to make attack images realistic. Which do you prefer? Why do you think filmmakers have leaned into creating more graphic and gory depictions in horror?
Is drug use glamorized here? Why, or why not? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Los Angeles built a nature bridge for mountain lions to cross over the highway. What other solutions could be put into place to help humans co-exist with wild animals who've lost their habitat to human sprawl?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 3, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : October 21, 2025
- Cast : Justin Long , Kate Bosworth , Mila Harris , Katherine McNamara
- Director : Colin Minihan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Aura Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violent content, gore, language, some sexual material and brief drug use
- Last updated : October 21, 2025
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