Parents' Guide to

Locke & Key

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Suspense abounds in creepy graphic novel adaptation.

TV Netflix Drama 2020
Locke & Key Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 37 parent reviews

AnnaWestbrook
AnnaWestbrook Adult
November 20, 2021
age 17+

Encourages Sexual Violence

Honestly, don't let your kids watch this unless you're willing to walk them through sexual violence. There's a scene where a woman asks to be choked during sex, then turns around to choke her sexual partner (who looks like a teenage boy, btw). He says no and stop. She continues to choke him until he dies. They are both in their underwear. Between this and the first episode where the teenage boy of the family is told that because he was traumatized he'll get a lot of sex, and then he DOES get offered sex; this is just a messed up thing to expose your kids to. The fact that it is rated for 14 + astounds me. Having 14 year olds watch this will just add to our society's messed up sexual expectations. Kids are more likely to be watching porn and engaging in sexual experiences at a young age. 12 year olds are dealing with sexting. Don't show this to 14 year olds as entertainment unless you are able to walk them through sexual violence and consent. Also, the writing is sub par. Just go watch something else, this isn't worth it.

This title has:

Too much violence
21 people found this helpful.
Mr.McD
Mr.McD Parent of 7-year-old
June 25, 2022
age 18+

the reviews leave out the snuff film seen. Verry inappropriate for children.

As an adult I enjoyed this show ... HOWEVER, I'm not sure why it's been missed in the content review, but there is basically a snuff film in the first episode. Dodge the main baddy gets released and goes on her crime spree (Steeling cloths and money, killing kids...). The review mentioned that she is in a bra asking a man to choke her, but leaves out the fact that they are clearly having sex at the time. Worse is that the review leaves out the rest of the seen where Dodge reverses positions so she is actively riding the man and says "my turn". At which point she proceeds to strangle him to death while he helplessly fights to get free. All while she rides him to a climax when he dies. There is no reason ANY child should be watching someone murdering a person while having sex with them, and clealy getting off by it. How this got a TV -14 rating with that in it is beyond me. You should NOT let your child watch this show.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
14 people found this helpful.
See all 37 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In LOCKE & KEY, when the Locke family relocates to their ancestral home in Massachusetts following the untimely death of their husband and father, Rendall (Bill Heck), they find themselves engulfed in a supernatural mystery that goes back generations. Nina (Darby Stanchfield) hopes the move will offer a fresh start for herself and her three kids -- Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) -- but Rendall's childhood home brings the Locke family face to face with the ghosts of his past and an evil spirit that's very real in the present. As the family learns some of the secrets Rendall kept hidden, the Locke kids unearth and collect a series of magical keys with untold power that the spirit is bent on stealing for herself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (37 ):
Kids say (70 ):

This thrilling series raises more questions than it answers from the unnatural death in the very first scene, and it doesn't stop there. Watching it is like riding a rollercoaster with more uphills than downhills; you always feel like you're headed toward a resolution of some kind, but instead every turn just brings more intrigue and suspense. This series excels at revealing just enough insight at just the right times to keep your interest and tempt you to come back for more.

You needn't be a horror or sci-fi geek to appreciate Locke & Key. The storyline that follows the family's healing process after a painful loss and traumatic experience is every bit as compelling as the one about a living, breathing spirit who threatens them in the present and has uncertain ties to their family's past. That said, it's a fairly gritty watch and has a definite creepiness that tingles a bit, so young teens who are sensitive to that kind of content may want to be wary of this one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Locke & Key's use of violence (or lack thereof). Is visual violence necessary to the story to keep it interesting? How does it use suspense and the suggestion of fear to offset the need for physical violence while maintaining the show's intrigue?

  • As you get to know the characters better, what strengths do you see in Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode? How does each demonstrate courage in their own way? How do their memories inspire how they live now?

  • If you've read the graphic novels, how would you rate this adaptation? In general, do you like the trend of turning graphic novels or animated characters into live-action series or movies?

TV Details

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