Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is the 2015 dystopian science fiction sequel to The Maze Runner, continuing the story of Thomas and his fellow Gladers. The film follows their escape from the mysterious organization WCKD and their perilous journey across a desolate, sun-scorched landscape known as the Scorch, which is populated by dangerous, zombie-like humans called Cranks. The group seeks out a resistance movement while uncovering more about WCKD's true intentions and the deadly Flare virus. The movie is an action-packed installment, intensifying the threats and expanding the world, catering to a young adult audience interested in survival narratives and rebellion against oppressive systems.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains prolonged and intense sequences of violence, including numerous violent deaths, gun battles, and hand-to-hand combat. There are depictions of blood and gore, and the overall intensity is noted to be greater than its predecessor.
The movie features gunship-style helicopters and soldiers firing automatic weapons, killing groups of unarmed mutant humans ('Cranks'). During an attack on a civilian compound, a soldier explicitly states, 'Every last one of you will die,' before the compound explodes. Characters face brutal physical altercations, such as a man being repeatedly punched in the face until it is swollen, bruised, and bloody to extract information. Another instance involves Winston, who is scratched by a Crank, becomes infected, and is forced to shoot himself off-screen due to the worsening symptoms of the Flare virus.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie is described as highly intense and scary, incorporating elements typical of a horror film. It features disfigured, zombie-like creatures, frequent jump scares, and constant life-threatening situations, creating a continuously suspenseful and disturbing atmosphere.
The film frequently utilizes 'horribly disfigured zombie-like people' (Cranks) who 'pop out of the shadows,' generating jump scares and contributing to a horror-movie feel. One viewer even stated it was the 'scariest movie he'd seen, second only to 'Rage'.' The protagonists, Thomas and his group, face relentless peril from both the infected Cranks and the pursuing WCKD soldiers, involving frantic chases through crumbling cities, narrow escapes, and intense confrontations in a 'frenetic freefall of a film'.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighA core theme of "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is the rebellion of the youthful protagonists against the authoritative and manipulative organization known as WCKD. This involves overt defiance, escape attempts, and direct confrontation with adult figures in power.
The entire plot is driven by Thomas and his friends' escape from WCKD headquarters and their subsequent quest to find a resistance group, the Right Arm, to actively fight against the organization. This demonstrates a strong, central theme of defiance against an oppressive adult authority that they believe is experimenting on and torturing youths. Thomas explicitly resolves to 'take the fight to WCKD, kill Paige, and rescue the captured Immunes,' illustrating a determined stance of rebellion against the system.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic content is minimal in the film, primarily involving implied romantic interest and one passionate kiss. There is no explicit sexual content, nudity, or graphic intimacy.
There is a passionate kiss shared between Thomas and Brenda during their journey through the Scorch. Additionally, a scene depicts a young woman, Teresa, changing clothes behind a barrier, with a young man glancing towards her, though no nudity is shown, keeping the scene implied rather than explicit.
Profanity
MediumThe movie includes infrequent but moderate profanity. This consists of scatological slang and some mild expletives, contributing to the film's PG-13 rating.
Reviews indicate approximately seven instances of 'scatological slang' and a few mild expletives throughout the film. One Reddit user also mentioned the use of the 'F-word' in a scene that annoyed them. Other sources generally confirm the presence of 'bad language' and 'cursing' associated with the film's major intensity and violence.
Substance Use
MediumThe film features instances of substance use, most notably characters being forced to consume a hallucinogenic liquid. Other implied substance use occurs in a desolate, post-apocalyptic setting.
Thomas and Brenda are given an unknown liquid that they are coerced into drinking to gain admittance into an area. After consuming it, both characters begin to experience vivid hallucinations. Another scene features Marcus (also known as Blondie) operating a club-like establishment where drinking is present, contributing to a general atmosphere of illicit activity among survivors, though explicit drug use beyond the hallucinogen is not detailed.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe movie adaptation of "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" does not explicitly feature LGBTQ+ content or characters. While the author of the book series, James Dashner, later confirmed one of the book characters (Newt) as gay, this aspect is not portrayed in the film series. Fan discussions confirm the absence of overt LGBTQ+ themes in the movie.
In the book series, author James Dashner confirmed that the character Newt is gay. However, this is not directly translated or explicitly shown in the film adaptation. Fan discussions on platforms like Reddit highlight that while there is a fandom for 'Newtmas' (Newt and Thomas), the movies portray their relationship as platonic, and some fans note that a deleted scene from *The Scorch Trials* even had Newt expressing jealousy over Aris being in a maze with girls, implying heterosexuality in the film canon.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no explicit depictions or themes of witchcraft, sorcery, magic rituals, or occult practices in "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials." The narrative is firmly rooted in dystopian science fiction.
The film's plot centers on a post-apocalyptic world, a deadly global pandemic (the Flare), and a powerful, manipulative organization (WCKD) conducting scientific experiments. These elements are presented within a scientific and dystopian framework, devoid of any magical or occult influences. General discussions and thematic analyses of the film consistently focus on its science fiction and survival aspects, without mentioning any supernatural or occult content.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery, or sacrilege. The primary conflict is a secular struggle against a dystopian scientific organization, WCKD, whose 'ends justify the means' philosophy raises general ethical questions rather than targeting religious beliefs. The character Teresa Agnes is notably named after Mother Teresa.
The narrative focuses on a struggle for survival and freedom against WCKD, an organization driven by scientific, albeit unethical, means to find a cure for the Flare virus. The moral ambiguity and actions of WCKD, such as human experimentation, are presented as general ethical dilemmas, not as attacks on Christian tenets. Additionally, the character Teresa Agnes is named after Mother Teresa, which serves as a subtle reference to a Christian figure and does not imply anti-Christian sentiment within the film.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
This movie is rated PG-13 by the MPAA primarily for extended sequences of violence and action, thematic elements, substance use, and language. While the official rating suggests suitability for ages 13 and up, parental reviews and educational outlets frequently recommend it for older teens, specifically 15 or 16+, due to its intense, disturbing, and scary content, including graphic violence and jump scares.
Additional Notes
The film significantly diverges from the source material, the book 'The Scorch Trials,' leading to a different narrative and character arcs. Parents familiar with the books should be aware that the movie's portrayal of events and character development may not align with their expectations from the novels.
Related Reviews
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