Chaos Walking
Chaos Walking is a dystopian science-fiction action-thriller film based on Patrick Ness's novel, "The Knife of Never Letting Go," the first book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. The story is set on a planet called New World, where all women have mysteriously vanished, and the thoughts of all men are audibly and visibly projected as "Noise." The narrative follows Todd Hewitt, a young man who lives in an all-male settlement. His world is upended when he discovers Viola Eade, a girl who crash-lands on the planet, representing the first woman he has ever seen. As Todd endeavors to protect Viola from the dangers of this new world and the men who pursue her, he uncovers dark secrets about his home and the history of New World. Targeted primarily at young adult audiences, the film explores themes of truth, prejudice, toxic masculinity, and the impact of unchecked thoughts. Its overall appropriateness is suitable for teenagers and older, due to its PG-13 rating for thematic elements, violence, and some language. The movie presents a challenging world where characters must navigate moral complexities and confront difficult realities about humanity and colonization.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film features explicit LGBTQ+ representation through its main character, Todd Hewitt, who was raised by two adoptive fathers, Ben and Cillian. The author, Patrick Ness, a gay man, intentionally included this representation, and it is portrayed as a normalized aspect of Todd's upbringing within the film's world. Ness has also discussed how the concept of 'Noise' could apply to transgender individuals, stating his belief that transgender men are men and transgender women are women, and that 'Noise' could be a helpful aspect for them.
1. Todd Hewitt's adoptive parents, Ben (Demián Bichir) and Cillian (Kurt Sutter), are portrayed as a gay couple who raised Todd in Prentisstown. This relationship is shown as a tender and foundational part of Todd's life, with the author confirming their gay relationship in both the books and the movie. 2. Patrick Ness, the queer author of the Chaos Walking trilogy and co-screenwriter of the film, purposefully included this representation to normalize same-sex parenting within the narrative, noting that Todd 'would never remark' on his parents being a male couple.
Violence
MediumThe movie contains frequent and at times graphic violence, including shootouts, stabbings, and death. Characters are depicted being killed, and there are scenes involving animals being harmed. The violence is often central to the plot, depicting the harsh realities of the New World and the conflict between settlers and native inhabitants.
1. There are multiple instances of graphic violence, including shootings and stabbings. One specific example cited is a scene where a man is burned alive. 2. A particularly disturbing scene involves the drowning of Todd's dog, Manchee, which is considered by some reviewers to be an emotionally impactful and graphic act of violence.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic elements are present as the relationship between Todd and Viola develops from mistrustful strangers to allies, with hints of deeper affection. Sexual content is minimal, but includes a brief scene of non-sexual male nudity and some suggestive thoughts due to the 'Noise' phenomenon.
1. Todd's 'Noise' (his visible thoughts) often reveals his adolescent feelings and desires for Viola, including thoughts about her "pretty yellow hair" and a desire to kiss her, which can raise questions about objectification. 2. There is a brief shot of non-sexual male posterior nudity when Todd jumps naked into a river.
Profanity
MediumThe film contains a notable amount of strong language. Reviews indicate frequent use of scatological profanity, along with milder curse words and terms of deity.
1. According to parental reviews, there are approximately 29 uses of scatological profanity throughout the film. 2. The movie includes scattered use of terms of deity (e.g., 'goddamn') and other mild profanity in various dialogues.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThere is no explicit witchcraft or occult content present in 'Chaos Walking.' The central fantastical element, 'The Noise,' is a psychic phenomenon tied to the planet's biology and not presented as magic, sorcery, or demonology. The settlers' background includes Christian themes, but not occult practices.
1. The core premise of men hearing and seeing each other's thoughts ('The Noise') is explained as a physiological effect of the New World planet, not as a magical or occult ability. 2. The film's narrative, while involving a new planet and unique abilities, does not feature spells, rituals, demons, or any traditional elements of witchcraft or the occult.
Substance Use
MediumThe film does not prominently feature substance use. There are no notable instances of characters engaging in alcohol, drug use, or smoking as a significant plot point or recurring theme.
1. Parental guidance reviews explicitly state there is no alcohol or drug use in the film. 2. There are no scenes depicting characters smoking or misusing any other substances.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe movie contains several intense and frightening sequences due to its dystopian setting and themes. These include chases, violent confrontations, and the omnipresent 'Noise' which can be overwhelming and contribute to psychological distress for characters. The film's themes of survival, pursuit, and murder contribute to a consistently tense atmosphere.
1. The constant auditory and visual projection of men's thoughts via 'The Noise' can be intense and chaotic, especially for Todd, who struggles to control his own thoughts and is bombarded by others'. 2. Intense chase sequences and violent confrontations with threatening characters, such as Mayor Prentiss and the preacher Aaron, create high-stakes and frightening moments as Todd and Viola are constantly pursued and in danger.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe narrative features significant elements of rebellion against oppressive authority figures. Todd and Viola defy the rules and expectations of Prentisstown's leadership, which is portrayed as a corrupt and violent patriarchal system. While this rebellion is depicted as necessary for survival and uncovering the truth, it involves defying established order.
1. Todd Hewitt actively disobeys Mayor Prentiss's authority and flees Prentisstown with Viola to protect her and seek the truth about the planet's history. 2. The central conflict involves the resistance against Mayor Prentiss and his followers, who maintain control through deceit and violence, making acts of defiance a key part of the protagonists' journey.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film is based on a book series by a gay author who rejected his 'evangelical' Christian upbringing. It portrays a religious community, Prentisstown, with a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Aaron, that is depicted as murderous and built on lies, using religion to conceal a dark history of violence against women. The narrative implicitly critiques certain aspects of organized religion and toxic masculinity.
1. The character of Preacher Aaron (David Oyelowo) embodies a fundamentalist, violent, and manipulative religious authority within Prentisstown. He is shown to use his position to justify aggression and control over the community. 2. The backstory of Prentisstown reveals that the men murdered all the women, and the community has maintained a facade of lies, which a review from a Christian perspective suggests is an underlying problematic theme related to a religious community concealing a violent history.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
PG-13. The film is recommended for ages 13 and older due to its depiction of violence, including graphic acts and death, some suggestive content, and frequent strong language. Themes such as toxic masculinity, genocide, and the death of parental figures may also be intense for younger viewers.
Additional Notes
The movie is an adaptation of the first book in a trilogy, and while it covers the core elements, some depth from the books may be lost. The 'Noise' concept, fundamental to the story, can be visually and auditorily intense, potentially overwhelming for some viewers, especially younger ones. The film's exploration of toxic masculinity and its consequences is a central theme, which may lead to discussions on gender roles and societal structures.
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