Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gore, language in fun, 1980s-inspired horror movie.
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The Wretched
What's the Story?
In THE WRETCHED, a flashback shows a teen babysitter encountering a witch who's devouring a young child. In the present day, troubled teen Ben (John-Paul Howard) arrives to spend the summer with his divorced dad, Liam (Jamison Jones). To Ben's dismay, he also meets his dad's new girlfriend, Sara (Azie Tesfai). Ben gets a job at the marina and bonds with fellow misfit Mallory (Piper Curda). Meanwhile, he thinks he sees some kind of monster next door. And then Ben notices the neighbors -- Ty (Kevin Bigley), Abbie (Zarah Mahler), their young son, Dillon (Blane Crockarell), and a baby -- start acting strangely. When Dillon fails to show up for a sailing lesson, Ben follows up, and Ty claims never to have had any kids. Ben and Mallory decide to investigate, discovering a tree that could be the dwelling place of an ancient evil.
Is It Any Good?
Familiar but fresh, this brisk, gory mashup of horror and teen adventure movie is inspired by many 1970s and '80s favorites, but it's less a slavish copy than it is an enthusiastic, adoring tribute. The Wretched has touches that recall the works of Steven Spielberg, among others. And brothers/writers-directors Brett and Drew T. Pierce are the sons of Bart Pierce, who worked on special effects for Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead. These bits and pieces are assembled with such finesse and with so many elements mixed together so well that it feels like a seamless whole.
Howard's appealing performance as Ben is a huge help. At times, it feels like he's channeling Michael J. Fox's clumsy confidence from movies like Back to the Future. And Curda offers some bright, spunky moments as the funny Mallory. The monster is a good one -- genuinely scary, even though it borrows some movements and sound effects from other movies. But the real reason The Wretched works so well is that it's rooted in nightmarishly primal fears between parents and children: fears of abandonment, issues of trust, etc. That underlying dread effectively drives the storytelling, with its focus on characters rather than jump scares.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Wretched's violence. How did it make you feel? How much is shown or not shown? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes want to be scared?
How is teen drinking portrayed here? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
How does divorce impact families? Why is Ben so angry about the idea of his father having a girlfriend? How does the family talk about this situation?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 1, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : August 11, 2020
- Cast : John-Paul Howard , Piper Curda , Jamison Jones
- Directors : Brett Pierce , Drew T. Pierce
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC Midnight
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 10, 2020
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