Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Blood-soaked, profanity-laden zombie film is great fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Little Monsters
What's the Story?
Dave (Alexander England) is a lost soul in LITTLE MONSTERS (2019). He probably won't survive a terrible breakup; his music career is definitely not happening; and he's stuck on the couch at his disapproving sister's home. Only his 5-year-old nephew Felix (a wonderfully natural Diesel la Torraca) can stand to be around him. But a visit to Felix's kindergarten classroom changes everything for Dave. It's there that he sees Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong'o), an astonishingly sensitive teacher who is as smart and warmhearted as she is talented. She sings and plays music; she's uber empathetic; her students adore her. Smitten, Dave offers to accompany the class on the next day's field trip to Pleasant Valley Farm, which doubles as an amusement park. Even better, the class visit coincides with a special appearance by a children's media personality, Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad). Unfortunately for all involved, Pleasant Valley is situated next to a U.S. military base conducting scientific work that goes terribly wrong. Zombies emerge from the facility, destroying dozens of service men and women, and soon, almost everybody at Pleasant Valley, including other field trippers. The only class that avoids capture is Miss Caroline's. With almost no resources, it's up to Miss Caroline and Dave (with Teddy McGiggle along for the wild ride) to save the day.
Is It Any Good?
With another fantastic performance by Lupita Nyongo'o, Josh Gad at his most hilarious as a foul-mouthed media star, and dozens of gore-filled action sequences, what else could a zombie fan ask for? If the answer is a gaggle of kid actors who are both adorable and gifted, all prayers are answered. Little Monsters, written and directed by Abe Forsythe with great gusto and wit, is set in Australia, and produced with skill and high spirits. Raunchy and extremely violent, it's not for kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Little Monsters. Does the fact that it's meant to be funny as well as suspenseful make it easier to watch? How much is too much? At what age do you feel that teens are ready for the exaggerated horror sequences? What determines that?
Talk about the extreme profanity in Little Monsters. Does the fact that it's meant to be funny make it less offensive? How much is too much? Does it make you wonder how the child actors in Little Monsters were affected?
Zombie movies are hugely popular. What is it about the genre that makes it so appealing? To kids? To adults?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 11, 2019
- Cast : Lupita Nyong'o , Josh Gad , Alexander England
- Director : Abe Forsythe
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Hulu
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Bloody zombie violence, crude sexual content, language throughout, and brief drug use
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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