Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Arty lesbian romance/werewolf horror is all drool, no bite.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Animal
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MY ANIMAL, hockey goalie Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) is a werewolf, a condition that she and her family hide from their community by locking Heather in her room during the full moon. When Heather meets ice skater Jonny (Amandla Stenberg) at the rink, the two forge an instant connection, which becomes another secret to hide.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is based in an outstanding concept, but the fantastic allegory is largely lost in the choice to make high art rather than more mainstream entertainment. My Animal starts with a scene so creepy that it may well mislead viewers into thinking they're about to watch a solidly scary movie. But, really, the film is more about the drudgery of Heather's day-to-day life.
That life is drenched in dull gray. Heather works at the hockey rink where she hopes to be allowed to try out for the boys' hockey team. There, she meets the beautiful Jonny, and, despite having a stereotypical jerk boyfriend (Cory Lipman), Jonny seems to like her, too. For an hour, it's all buildup, no action. When the promise of something dangerous or romantic is brewing, the color tone changes to red. But it feels nothing actually happens until the end of the movie -- and even that isn't as satisfying as you might hope.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about My Animal's use of the werewolf metaphor to represent queerness in the 1980s. What message is the movie trying to send?
The movie's writer, director, and star are queer women who are telling a story about queer women. Do you think the people making a movie need to have the same lived experiences as the characters? Why is authenticity important in movies about underrepresented communities?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Are they glamorized? Does the 1980s setting change the impact? Why does that matter?
Compare My Animal to other horror monster movies you've seen. What are hallmarks of the genre?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 8, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : September 15, 2023
- Cast : Bobbi Salvör Menuez , Amandla Stenberg , Stephen McHattie
- Director : Jacqueline Castel
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Non-Binary Movie Actor(s) , Transgender Movie Actor(s) , Bisexual Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s) , Pansexual Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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