A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time is a 2018 American science fantasy adventure film directed by Ava DuVernay, based on Madeleine L'Engle's classic 1962 novel. The story follows Meg Murry, a young girl struggling with self-worth, who embarks on an interstellar journey with her younger brother Charles Wallace and classmate Calvin O'Keefe to find her missing astrophysicist father. They are guided by three celestial beings, Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who, as they confront a cosmic evil known as 'The It' that threatens the universe. The film is a visually driven narrative exploring themes of self-belief, love, and the battle between light and darkness across various fantastical worlds. While offering positive messages about courage and family, the movie contains elements that may require parental guidance, particularly regarding its intense fantasy sequences and a notable divergence from the book's explicit Christian allegory.
Concerns
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the plot, involving supernatural beings, astral travel, and a cosmic battle against a personified evil. The film's worldview is described as 'strong New Age pagan,' emphasizing mind control and universal oneness, which is a significant departure from the book's Christian allegories.
The narrative features three celestial beings—Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who—who guide the children through space using 'tessering' (a form of astral travel). The main antagonist, 'The It,' is a black, creepy mass of pure evil that possesses Charles Wallace and manipulates others through mind control.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie contains frequent scary and intense scenes, including disturbing imagery, psychological threats, and moments of intense peril. These elements are a primary concern for younger viewers and contribute to the film's PG rating. The manifestation of 'The It' and Charles Wallace's possession are particularly unsettling.
Children repeatedly encounter 'The It,' which manifests as a 'black, creepy mass of pure evil.' Charles Wallace becomes possessed by 'The It,' with his skin showing 'fire and cracks' as he tries to kill Meg, and earlier a man comes apart 'marionette style' revealing 'red, glowing, eyes'.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film significantly deviates from Madeleine L'Engle's original novel, which carried explicit Christian themes and allegories. The movie largely removes these elements, replacing them with a 'strong New Age pagan worldview' that emphasizes self-belief, universal oneness, and mind control, incorporating references from various non-Christian spiritual figures. This thematic shift is a major concern for Christian parents.
Movieguide highlights a 'Strong New Age pagan worldview, emphasizing being one with the universe and mind control to overcome the negative with references and quotes from Gandhi, Buddha, and Rumi.' The movie's message, according to some reviewers, shifts from the book's Christian undertones of God's purpose to a final line focused on 'I believe in me.'
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film includes an implied same-sex relationship between two supernatural characters, Mrs. Whatsit and the Happy Medium. They are referred to as 'an item' who 'avoid labels,' suggesting a non-explicit romantic connection without delving into specifics. There is no explicit LGBTQ character identification or gender identity exploration, but the implied relationship is present.
Mrs. Whatsit and the Happy Medium are described as 'an item,' with Mrs. Whatsit calling the Happy Medium 'cute' and noting that after a billion years, they 'avoid labels.'
Violence
MediumThe movie contains several instances of non-graphic but impactful violence and physical peril. This includes a child being physically thrashed, near-death experiences, and a character trying to harm another while under an evil influence. The violence is often magical or fantasy-based rather than realistic, but can be intense.
Meg slams a basketball into a classmate's face after being bullied. While possessed by 'The It,' Charles Wallace uses telekinesis to thrash Meg around, and later, with 'fire and cracks show through his skin,' attempts to kill her.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic content is mild, consisting primarily of familial affection and budding adolescent attraction. There is implied nudity during a shapeshifting scene, but nothing explicit is shown. Vague suggestions of marital issues are briefly mentioned.
Dr. Murray and his wife share kisses, expressing love for each other. Calvin turns away when Mrs. Whatsit shapeshifts, implying nudity, though no explicit visuals are presented to the audience.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumInstances of disrespect and rebellious behavior are present, primarily through bullying from classmates and Meg's own reactions. While these acts are shown as problematic and Meg is encouraged to apologize, the portrayal of such behavior is clear within the film.
Meg slams a basketball into a classmate's face after being insulted, an act for which her mother later tells her to write an apology letter. Meg is described as lashing out at school and fighting with classmates due to her insecurities.
Profanity
LowThe film contains minimal coarse language. While school bullies use hurtful words and phrases, there is an absence of strong profanity or expletives. The language used is generally mild and non-offensive.
School bullies call Meg and her father 'crazy' and use the phrase 'Shut up' multiple times. Reviews explicitly state there is 'no coarse language' and 'no swearing.'
Substance Use
LowThere is no depicted or implied substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, throughout the film. Multiple parental reviews confirm the absence of such content, making it a low concern for parents.
Sources explicitly state, 'There is no use of substances in A Wrinkle in Time.' Similarly, reviews confirm 'No alcohol use; Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse: No smoking or drug references.'
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Parental Guidance is recommended for children under 13, with the film being suitable for children aged 10 and above, especially given the intense thematic elements, frightening scenes, and a worldview shift from the original source material. While rated PG, the presence of scary imagery, a central occult theme, and implied relationships warrants careful consideration for younger or more sensitive viewers.
Additional Notes
The film's visual spectacle is often praised, but its narrative coherence has received mixed reviews. The differences in thematic emphasis between the original book and the movie adaptation are notable, particularly for parents familiar with L'Engle's Christian faith influencing her work. No information was found regarding extended or director's cuts, or significant tonal shifts in hypothetical sequels.
Related Reviews
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