The Darkest Minds
The Darkest Minds is a 2018 American dystopian science fiction film based on Alexandra Bracken's young adult novel. It portrays a future where a mysterious disease has killed most of the children in the United States, and the survivors develop various superpowers. Fearing these enhanced abilities, the government classifies the children by color based on their powers and confines them to internment camps. The story follows Ruby Daly, a powerful 'Orange' (telepathy and mind control), as she escapes her camp and joins a group of other runaway superpowered teens. Together, they seek a rumored safe haven and ultimately fight against the oppressive adult regime that seeks to control or eliminate them. The film blends action, adventure, and drama, targeting a young adult audience with themes of survival, friendship, and rebellion against injustice, without delving into graphic detail that would push it into an R rating.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film features frequent and intense science fiction violence, including combat between children with superpowers and armed adults. There are depictions of death, injuries, explosions, and implied harm, with some scenes being quite disturbing.
Teens with mind-control powers instruct several people to point guns at themselves and commit suicide, although the fatal wounds are kept off-screen. A group of Red children (fire manipulators) attacks unarmed teens with flames, and a military helicopter crashes, burning and blowing several teens off their feet. Ruby's friend, Chubs, suffers severe burns from an explosion.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film features numerous intense and frightening situations, including children being hunted, imprisoned in concentration camps, and facing threats of death. The dystopian setting and the violence contribute to a consistently high level of suspense and distress.
The core premise involves a deadly plague killing 90% of children, with survivors being rounded up into 'internment camps' where some are forcibly euthanized. Scenes depict children being forcibly removed from their homes, bounty hunters pursuing and attacking teens, and the use of powers for destructive and life-threatening actions, such as bringing down a helicopter.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighThe central theme of the movie revolves around children rebelling against an oppressive adult government that fears and persecutes them due to their superpowers. This involves significant acts of defiance, escape, and fighting against authority figures.
The entire plot follows Ruby and other superpowered children escaping government 'rehabilitation camps' and forming a resistance movement, the Children's League, to actively oppose adult authorities. Characters like Ruby and Liam engage in direct confrontations and evasive maneuvers against adult soldiers and government agents who seek to capture or harm them.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe movie itself does not feature explicitly LGBTQ characters or relationships within its plot. However, its lead actress, Amandla Stenberg (who plays Ruby), is openly gay, queer, and non-binary, and the film's writer, Chad Hodge, is openly gay. One reviewer notes that themes of being true to oneself in the film can be seen as metaphors for the vulnerable LGBTQ youth population. The author of the book series clarified that the character Chubs is not gay.
Amandla Stenberg, the actress portraying the main character Ruby Daly, has publicly identified as gay, queer, and non-binary. Chad Hodge, the film's writer, is an openly gay man, and he expressed his perspective on naturally incorporating diversity into his writing.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe movie includes a central romantic storyline between the main characters, Ruby and Liam, involving kissing and expressions of affection. There is also a scene with implied sexual assault by a villain, though it is not graphic and Ruby escapes before it escalates.
Ruby and Liam share multiple romantic kisses, including a final, emotional kiss where Ruby uses her powers to erase Liam's memories of her for his safety. Clancy Gray, a villain, uses his mind control powers to manipulate Ruby into kissing him and attempts to control her mind, which is described as a 'potential forced sexual act' before Ruby escapes.
Profanity
MediumThe film contains a notable amount of foul language, including mild obscenities and occasional exclamatory profanity, which some reviewers found unnecessary.
Movieguide reports approximately '16 or 17 mostly light obscenities (a few BS words), one Jesus profanity, and six light exclamatory profanities.' One review specifically notes a character who is 'frequently foul-mouthed—swearing throughout the film'.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film's powers are described as 'superpowers' or 'superhuman abilities' resulting from a mysterious infection (Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration), not magic, witchcraft, or occult practices. There are no mentions of rituals, spells, demons, or supernatural entities in a witchcraft/occult context.
Children develop abilities like enhanced intelligence, telekinesis, electricity manipulation, fire control, and telepathy/mind control due to a mysterious illness, which are consistently treated as genetic mutations rather than magical or occult phenomena. The narrative focuses on dystopian and scientific explanations for these powers.
Substance Use
LowThe film has minimal and indirect references to substance use. No explicit illegal drug use, smoking, or alcoholism is depicted as central to the plot or character behavior.
A doctor attempts to administer a lethal injection to a 10-year-old Ruby in a camp setting. Movieguide states, 'No alcohol use; No smoking or drugs' are present in the film.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. While it lacks an explicit religious or spiritual foundation, some reviewers interpret its themes of fighting tyranny and showing compassion as aligning with positive moral values that can be seen through a Christian worldview, despite the absence of overt religious content.
Movieguide notes that while the film has 'no explicit religious or spiritual foundation,' it promotes a 'generally positive moral, redemptive worldview that opposes government tyranny and extols compassion and protecting other people to the point of sacrificing oneself,' aligning with biblical truths. The narrative focuses on a dystopian future, superhuman abilities, and governmental control, without introducing or critiquing specific religious doctrines or figures.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The Darkest Minds is rated PG-13 and is best suited for viewers aged 13 and older. This recommendation is due to its pervasive themes of violence, including children being threatened and harmed, the depiction of a dystopian society where children are imprisoned and some euthanized, and a scene with implied sexual assault. Younger viewers may find the intensity, violence, and distressing themes too frightening or disturbing.
Additional Notes
The film is an adaptation of the first book in 'The Darkest Minds' series, with the book series having multiple installments. While the movie was intended to be a franchise starter, it did not perform well at the box office. There are no notable differences in content across theatrical, extended, or director's cuts reported. The themes of prejudice and fighting for freedom may offer discussion points for older children.
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