Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A family fights to survive in violent but moving drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Sand Castle
What's the Story?
THE SAND CASTLE tells the story of parents Nabil (Ziad Bakri) and Jasmine (Nadine Labaki), along with their kids, teen Adam (Zain Al Rafeea) and tween Jana (Riman Al Rafeea), who are stranded on a small, deserted island. As they struggle to provide for themselves and find ways to signal for help, mysterious things start happening. As time goes by and their conditions get worse, the lines between reality and imagination start to blur, and holding on to hope gets harder and harder, too.
Is It Any Good?
This is a dark, disturbing, but ultimately moving psychological drama about a family in crisis. The Sand Castle constantly keeps the viewer off balance by moving back and forth between moments of happiness and moments of terror, and camerawork that blurs the distinction between reality and imagination. Lots of things don't add up, or make sense, but as the family's past starts to be revealed, viewers will likely be very moved even if they're still unsure about some things.
A director's note at the end offers a reason for the confusion, and explains why it's one of the movie's main points. The acting is very strong across all four main characters, and although viewers will root for their survival, it can be hard to watch their struggles sometimes. This and lots of dark, eerie locations, music, and sounds make it a better choice for teens and up who can handle brief gore, smoking, and a lot of tension and suspense.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence and scariness in The Sand Castle. Is it too much? Does it help tell the story, or is it gratuitous?
Besides being stranded on a deserted island, the family seem to be victims of bombings and some kind or armed conflict. What kind of effect does that have on them?
Did you read the director's note at the end? Did it change what you thought of the movie, the events, or the characters? Why, or why not?
How do the characters model courage, perseverance, and teamwork?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 24, 2025
- Cast : Nadine Labaki , Ziad Bakri , Riman Al Rafeea , Zain Al Rafeea
- Director : Matty Brown
- Inclusion Information : Indigenous Movie Director(s) , Native American (United States) Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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