Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strange, unsettling fantasy has dark tone, some violence.
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Why Age 15+?
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The 9th Life of Louis Drax
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX begins, 9-year-old Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth) has a near-fatal fall from a cliff that puts him in a coma. Louis' father, Peter (Aaron Paul), who has disappeared, may have been responsible. Louis' distraught mother, Natalie (Sarah Gadon), waits by his bed and consults with the handsome, married Dr. Pascal (Jamie Dornan). Before long, Natalie and the doctor begin to develop feelings for each other. In flashback, a psychologist, Dr. Perez (Oliver Platt), speaks to the unusual, accident-prone Louis, trying to figure out what makes him tick. Meanwhile, the unconscious Louis is living in his own dream world, speaking to a strange, seaweed-covered creature. Everything points to one thing: What really happened up there on the cliff?
Is It Any Good?
Sometimes it can be good to think outside the box, but this strange, unsettling mishmash of dark fantasy, disturbing behavior, and child psychology is ultimately more dismaying than refreshing. Written by actor Max Minghella (based on a novel by Liz Jensen) and directed by the usually horror-focused Alexandre Aja, The 9th Life of Louis Drax moves confidently, as if it seems to know where it's going. But as pieces come into place, the picture becomes less and less satisfying.
The warm scenes with the avuncular Platt as a child psychologist seem to point toward something wonderful, while the seaweed monster hints at something frighteningly fantastic. But the movie keeps centering back on the weird, illogical choices of the doctor and the equally unsettling behavior of Natalie, who becomes less of a doting mother and more of a femme fatale. Finally, the end result, which could have been a sigh, is more of a "huh?"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The 9th Life of Louis Drax. Who are the victims? Are there consequences? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How is sex portrayed in the movie? What is Louis' view of sex? Why do you think the married doctor is drawn to Natalie?
Why does Louis choose what he chooses in the end? What has he learned? Is there a message/take-away for viewers?
How does Louis deal with the things that have happened to him in his life? Does he deal with them directly? Does he use his imagination? Have you ever used your imagination to cope with problems?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 2, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : February 7, 2017
- Cast : Jamie Dornan , Aiden Longworth , Sarah Gadon , Aaron Paul
- Director : Alexandre Aja
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Premiere
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some disturbing images and brief strong language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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