Parents' Guide to

Open Season: Scared Silly

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Funny animated sequel has cartoon jeopardy, potty humor.

Movie PG 2016 85 minutes
Open Season: Scared Silly 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 7 parent reviews

RichManGold
RichManGold Adult
December 21, 2020
age 8+
Laney G.
Laney G. Parent
September 22, 2017
age 8+

Pretty Terrible

We went into viewing this movie with low expectations and it still was terrible. Poorly written, not funny, and at one point the characters are literally eating ("analyzing") poop. Potty humor taken way too far combined with zero storyline, we turned it off after an hour. Don't waste your time watching this movie.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Elliot (a mule deer voiced by William Townsend) and Boog (Donny Lucas as a grizzly bear) have another satisfyingly ridiculous adventure in OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY. On a dark and stormy night around a campfire, Elliott scares everyone with a tale of a terrifying local legend: the "Wailing Wampus Werewolf." Before you know it, the monster is spotted nearby ... or is he? Elliot, a self-proclaimed werewolf whisperer, is ready and eager to take the legend on. Boog is too frightened to care; all he wants to do is build a panic room and hide. Mr. Weenie joins the hunt, desperate to find his missing owners. And when Shaw (Trevor Devall), the villainous hunter of the earlier Open Season adventures, gets wind of the search, he sees a golden opportunity to have the town sheriff make hunting legal again. And so it is that the intrepid werewolf stalkers are themselves stalked by Shaw with his beloved shotgun "Lorraine" and two gun-toting accomplices. Mistaken identities, a poo-tracking scheme, and one operatic solo keep the action rolling merrily along.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Talented voice actors, along with a clever story and script, make this very funny film a cut above most direct-to-DVD fare for kids and families. The characters are rich with quirks and idiosyncrasies. Even the villains sparkle with originality -- the two Canadians selling their native "poutine" (French fries with gravy and cheese curds) are stellar. Most kids love potty humor, and this movie excels at delivering it. The scares and monsters are ridiculous to the max. Only the youngest among them, those who aren't comfortable with cartoon action, may find this movie too intense. Other than that, there are enough laughs and silly skirmishes to entertain even the most discerning kids and grown-ups.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the action in this movie. What techniques do the filmmakers use to make this movie funny rather than scary? Think specifically about the way they present the various versions of the "Wailing Wampus Werewolf."

  • Find out what "anthropomorphic" means. Why do writers and filmmakers use this approach to tell stories that kids will take to heart? Name some of your favorite anthropomorphized characters.

  • Have fun creating your own animal character who behaves like a human. Which animal would you choose to represent you?

Movie Details

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