Is Wendell and Wild Appropriate / Wendell and Wild Review written by the Ent on October 28th, 2022. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch Wendell and Wild
Movie: Wendell and Wild
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Comedy
Length: 1 hr and 45 mins.
Age suggested: 11 and up
Release Date: October 28th, 2022
Warnings: Death of Parents, Many macabre and scary imagery (zombies, jump scares, etc), Very minor language. For more details, check out our “Is Wendell and Wild Appropriate?” section below.
Quick Wendell and Wild Summary
Kat has been recently orphaned and is given one more chance as part of the “Break the Cycle” Program. While there, Kat gets involved with some unexpected creatures. Wendell and Wild are demon brothers who attempt to use Kat to bring them to the land of the living. This movie is the first film by Henry Selick since Coraline. He also directed Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.
Wendell and Wild Review
(Contain Spoilers)
-Is Wendell and Wild Appropriate?-
This is an interesting movie. It has a lot of the macabre and spooks as many of the other Claymation horror movies (Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Frankenweenie, etc), yet the rating given is PG-13. After watching, it seems that the main reason for this rating is a few uses of minor cuss words (ass and damn) very passively. With that said, there are definitely a few things to be aware of before letting younger viewers dive in.
The most obvious is simply the style and atmosphere. At the heart of it, this is a kids horror movie. Lots of creepy and macabre imagery including dead bodies (zombies play a big part in the plot), creepy imagery, and just a generally dark tone. The other thing to keep in mind is the big plot of Kat attempting to bring her dead parents back from the dead. This is a big focus of the film and could be triggering for many kids depending on age and experience. Overall, Wendell and Wild does provide a fun watch for those capable of handling the plot and the overall atmosphere/imagery.
–Why Watch Wendell and Wild–
If you are a fan of the claymation horror genre, then this is definitely a fun watch. The dirctor of Coraline, Nightmare Before Christmas, and James and the Giant Peach has returned to film after over a decade away. The story of Kat is immediately emotionally gripping and you care about her journey as she is being manipulated by two demons.
Speaking of those demons, Wendell and Wild are voiced by the comedy duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (of Key and Peele popularity). Their chemistry is felt throughout the film and provides a lighter escape from a relatively darker film. The entire cast does a good job adding personality to each of their characters to provide a very well told story of grief and healing.
Favorite Wendell and Wild Quotes
“They say everyone’s got demons, right? My demons have names.”
“I don’t do friends, Raul. Bad things happen to people I’m close to.”
“Rejoice! It’s a new day in your miserable lives.”
“You’ve tortured me for years. But you made me a survivor!”
-Wendell and Wild Quotes
Wendell and Wild Discussion Questions
Themes to Discuss: Loss, Temptation, Grief, Friendship
- Who was your favorite character and why?
- Why did Father Bests get involved in the “Break the Cycle” Program? What does this tell you about him?
- Klax Korp plays a big role in the film? What do they represent in the real world?
- How does Kat’s view of friendship change throughout the movie?
- How do Wendell and Wild change from when we first meet them to the end?
Thanks for reading our Wendell and Wild Review. Before you go, check out these other posts:
-Our top family friendly Netflix Streaming Suggestions
-Lessons from The Willoughybys with Discussion Questions
–A Tale Dark and Grimm Review
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