WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
A vivid, unsettling journey toward love, family and belonging.
Should You Watch It?
You should see this if you want a distinctive, high-quality film about anger, family, friendship and the need to belong. Spike Jonze captures the magic of Maurice Sendak’s original book, while the story uses its Wild Things to explore childhood fears and anxieties.
The film is not as gentle as its children’s-book source might suggest. Some scenes are too intense for young children, including a shocking moment when one Wild Thing rips off another’s arm. The violence shows no blood, and the victim recovers quickly, but the moment is still disturbing. The language is very light, and adults drink wine without becoming drunk.
The film’s emotional center is its belief that love and family bonds can overcome anger, bitterness and rebellion. See it with teenagers and adults, not young children.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMax is a boy whose out-of-control behavior brings him into conflict with his mother. After lashing out, he runs away and discovers a small sailboat.
The water expands into a vast ocean, and Max reaches a strange island inhabited by large, untamed creatures called the Wild Things. To protect himself, he pretends to have special powers and becomes their king. But the Wild Things carry their own conflicts, and Max must learn how to cope with them.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a high-quality, distinctive film with unusual emotional and visual power. Max Records gives a believable performance as Max, making him sympathetic even when he is a nuisance. Catherine Keener is convincing as his mother, and James Gandolfini shines as the voice of Carol, the lead Wild Thing.
Spike Jonze was the right choice as director. The visual style is reminiscent of Sendak’s original book and captures its magic and authenticity. The Wild Things look real and convincing, while each has a distinct personality.
One weakness is that Mark Ruffalo is underused as the mother’s boyfriend, with only one scene and a handful of lines.
The Worldview
The film presents love, family and friendship as the deepest sources of purpose, meaning and belonging. Max runs from a troubled home life hoping to find a family that will appreciate him, while the Wild Things also long for love and purpose. Their conflicts do not disappear, but the story moves toward the recognition that true love is found in family despite differences.
The film treats anger, bitterness and rebellion as destructive forces that must be overcome. Max lies and exaggerates to protect himself, and he rebels against his mother, but the story ultimately moves toward resolution. Its allegorical approach invites teenagers and adults to revisit childhood fears and anxieties through the Wild Things.
This aligns with a biblical emphasis on love and family bonds, though the film explores those truths through psychological allegory rather than explicit Christian belief. Scripture says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and the film’s central longing for love points toward that truth.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with redemptive premise in which love, family, and friendship are paramount and overcome anger, bitterness, and rebellion; one “d” word, one possible “h” word and one light exclamatory profanity (My God); violence, at times somewhat strong and/or startling, includes sometimes scary creatures and older children crush igloo on young boy, boy bites his mother, Wild Things threaten to eat boy, playful fighting in one extensive sequence, Wild Thing destroys huts, snowball fight, one Wild Thing rips another’s arm off in a long shot (though no blood is shown, the event is still very shocking and unexpected); no sexual situations, but man and woman flirt; no nudity; woman and her boyfriend drink a glass of wine, but no drunkenness; no smoking; and, boy lies to avoid being eaten and exaggerates, but truth comes out in the end, boy rebels against mother at a crucial moment but situation is eventually resolved happily, anger issues are overcome, and teacher tells young schoolchildren the sun will eventually explode and global warming may destroy humanity, but the movie seems to mock his dire prognosis.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Max’s anger causes him to hurt people and run away. What helps us respond to anger without letting it control us?
James 1:19–20 · Ephesians 4:26–27Max and the Wild Things want purpose, meaning and love. Where do people most often look for those things, and where does Scripture tell us to look?
Psalm 16:11 · John 15:9–11The film shows that family members can be very different and still love one another. How can your family practice patience and love when differences create conflict?
Colossians 3:12–14 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7Max lies and exaggerates to protect himself, but the truth eventually comes out. Why does truth matter even when telling it is difficult?
Ephesians 4:25 · John 8:31–32The Final Word
This is a beautiful, unusual film about a boy wrestling with anger, loneliness and the need for love. Its intense monster behavior makes it unsuitable for young children, but teenagers and adults may find its allegory meaningful. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
