At the beginning of the film, a boy stands at the edge of a cliff with a broken nose and then jumps. A boy finds a hunting rifle and runs around a forest carrying it. Two tween boys push and shove each other; one is shoved violently into a rocky wall. When his father sets a shed on fire that is occupied by a mysterious seemingly homeless man, Michael rescues the man, but visibly burns his hand.

Sex

Some tween-boy taunting, as two of Michael's friends accuse him of having a girlfriend when they spy on him spending time with a neighbor girl.

Language

"S--t." "Piss off." Due to a fear of heights, Michael avoids diving off a high dive in gym class; his teacher makes fun of him, as do some other boys in the locker room. Two tween-boy friends of Michael taunt him when they spy on him spending time with a neighbor girl.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Michael steals bottles of beer from his parents' refrigerator in order to take them to Skellig, who greedily swallows from the bottles and declares ale to be the "nectar of the gods." After a difficult day, Michael's father drinks beer to excess. He acts intoxicated, and then decides to burn down the ramshackle shed in the back yard of the property he has just purchased. Later, when he believes that his son is stealing his beer, Michael's father tells Michael, "Alcohol is never the answer."

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Skellig: The Owl Man is a 2009 made-for-TV adaptation of David Almond's award-winning novel. There are some emotionally intense hospital scenes, and the film freely discusses death, dying, and miscarriages within families. Scenes with cockroaches and scenes where the titular character eats live snails could be difficult for more sensitive viewers, or those watching during a meal. A coach is shown belittling a boy because he is afraid of heights and unable to climb up the high dive to jump into a swimming pool. Aside from this, there is some minor taunting between tween boys who are friends, and a violent pushing and shoving match between two friends near the film's climax. There is also some language ("s--t," "piss off").

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Teen, 15 years old Written byMadGirlJane November 19, 2013

age 18+

Skellig? MORE LIKE STUPID!!!

Dont waste your time quite frankly. I watched it in school and would rate it a 12. But that is a personal opinion, my friend said it was one of the best movies... Continue reading

Report this review

Kid, 11 years old June 30, 2014

age 13+

boring

i liked lots of this movie but it is really sad for people who care for all of gods creatures and lots is sad the film is a bit boring

Report this review

What's the story?

Michael is the new kid at school, and he and his parents are adjusting to moving into a house in dire need of repairs as his mother (Kelly Macdonald) is weeks away from the birth of his sister. While exploring the back yard of the new property, Michael discovers an old shed; much to his surprise, a seemingly homeless man (Tim Roth) lives there. Michael begins trying to befriend this mysterious, grumpy, and disheveled man by bringing him beer and Chinese food, and with the help of his neighbor, a misfit girl named Mina, Michael begins to realize that there is more to this man than he had previously believed. As it is discovered that Michael's newborn baby sister has a heart condition and might not live, the man in the shed -- Skellig -- gains strength, and as the mysteries of who he is and what he can do begin to be revealed, Michael sees Skellig as his only hope to save the baby's life, but only if Skellig can be made to believe in himself.

Is it any good?

SKELLIG: THE OWL MAN is a gripping mix of mysterious magical realism, emotionally intense family drama, and a tween boy coming-of-age story. What works is how it manages to balance all three of these elements while making full use of the possibilities in each story. The film doesn't sugarcoat old age, the difficulties kids have in moving to a new place, and the trials parents endure after experiencing a miscarriage. All this is presented in a way that is accessible and identifiable enough for parents and kids, and with the mystery of Skellig in the mix, the result is a powerful message on belief and hope.

While the movie's pace, and some of the graphic scenes of cockroaches and snails might be a bit much for younger viewers, for tween kids and parents, Skellig: The Owl Man is an engaging adaptation of the best-selling novel.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about books that are turned into films. What are the challenges in adapting a best-selling novel into a movie?
How does this film address the challenges kids face when moving to a new house and attending a new school?
How does the movie's magical realism contrast and also heighten the real-life problems presented?

Movie details

On DVD or streaming: August 17, 2010
Cast: Bill Milner, Kelly Macdonald, Tim Roth
Director: Annabel Jankel
Studio: Image Entertainment
Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Friendship
Run time: 104 minutes
MPAA rating: NR

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

Friendship

See all

For kids who love fantasy and adventure

Best Fantasy Movies

Adventure Movies

See all recommended movie lists

Our editors recommend

Back to the Secret Garden

Charming magical realism sequel set in 1940s England.

age 8+

The Secret World of Arrietty

Deeply felt anime about loneliness and friendship.

age 7+

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue

A few tense scenes add drama to family and friendship tale.

age 4+

Skellig: The Owl Man

Common Sense says

Parents say