The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner is a 2014 dystopian science fiction film based on James Dashner's novel, directed by Wes Ball. The story follows Thomas, a teenager who wakes up in a mysterious Glade with no memory, surrounded by other boys and a dangerous, ever-changing maze inhabited by monstrous creatures called Grievers. The group, known as Gladers, attempts to find a way out while building a functioning society. The film delves into themes of survival, memory, and rebellion against an unknown authority responsible for their predicament. Targeted at young adult audiences, the movie carries a PG-13 rating due to its intense sci-fi violence, action sequences, and disturbing imagery. It sets a dark and suspenseful tone, with a strong focus on action and mystery rather than romance or overt social commentary. The content can be quite harrowing for younger viewers, featuring perilous escapes, creature attacks, and thematic elements of human experimentation and loss.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains intense and often graphic science fiction violence, including deadly creature attacks, human-on-human combat, and several character deaths. The level of violence significantly increases in the sequels, with more explicit depictions of blood and gore.
1. Horrifying mechanical creatures called Grievers attack and bite humans. Those stung become violent and zombie-like, eventually dying, with some being graphically eaten by the creatures. Several Gladers are killed by these monsters during escape attempts. 2. Chuck, a young Glader, is fatally shot in the chest by Gally, who is then impaled with a spear-like weapon by Minho. This scene is particularly impactful due to Chuck's young age and the suddenness of his death. 3. A character, Alby, is forced into the Maze to be eaten by Grievers after being stung. Dead bodies and a pile of bones are seen in the Glade and the Maze, indicating violent ends for many. 4. In 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,' there are extended sequences of violence, including gun battles between soldiers and mutant humans, physical assaults, and a woman shooting herself in the head, with her dead body later shown.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film is consistently suspenseful and features numerous frightening and disturbing scenes. The threats are ever-present, involving menacing creatures, violent encounters, and psychological distress from confinement and memory loss.
1. The Grievers are visually disturbing, aggressive, giant robot-like insects that actively hunt and attack the Gladers, leading to jump scares and intense chase sequences within the Maze. 2. The thematic elements of being trapped without memory, subjected to deadly experiments by an unseen organization (WCKD), and witnessing friends die create a sustained sense of dread and psychological intensity. 3. Scenes like Gally's violent mental breakdown after being stung, and the sight of dead bodies and a suicide, contribute to the film's disturbing imagery.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe first 'The Maze Runner' film contains minimal to no romantic or sexual content. However, the subsequent films in the series introduce mild romantic elements, including passionate kissing.
1. In 'The Maze Runner,' parental reviews generally note an absence of sexual content. 2. In 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,' a passionate kiss occurs between Brenda and Thomas during a party scene where they are under the influence of a substance. 3. In 'Maze Runner: The Death Cure,' Teresa kisses Thomas after applying a healing serum to him, indicating a clear romantic connection.
Profanity
MediumThe film contains a moderate amount of profanity and crude language, including both common swear words and invented slang used by the Gladers. The frequency and intensity are consistent across the first two films.
1. Characters use terms such as 'shuck,' 'klunk' (invented slang), 'crap,' and 'damn.' 2. Stronger profanity, including 'shit,' 'asshole,' 'son-of-a-bitch,' and 'bastard,' is present throughout the dialogue. 3. 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials' is noted to have 'a handful of scatological slang, mild expletives and a term of Christian deity.'
Substance Use
MediumThe first film includes minor depictions of homemade alcohol consumption. The sequels escalate this, explicitly featuring drug use leading to hallucinations.
1. In 'The Maze Runner,' the boys in the Glade are shown drinking a homemade 'alcohol-like brew.' Additionally, characters are injected with various serums as part of the WCKD experiments. 2. In 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,' characters Thomas and Brenda are given an unknown liquid that causes vivid hallucinations and intoxication, described as being 'drugged.' This scene is a significant plot point.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumA core theme of 'The Maze Runner' series is rebellion against oppressive authority. The main characters consistently defy the rules and systems imposed upon them by WCKD, demonstrating significant disrespect for the established order.
1. Thomas, upon arriving in the Glade, immediately questions the established rules and pushes for exploration of the Maze, directly challenging the leadership of Alby and Gally, who advocate for maintaining order and staying within the Glade's boundaries. 2. The entire group of Gladers eventually unites in a collective act of defiance to escape the Maze, rejecting WCKD's control and the purpose they were created for.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo explicit LGBTQ+ representation or themes were found within 'The Maze Runner' movie, its sequels, or in statements from the film's director, Wes Ball, or author, James Dashner, based on comprehensive searches. The narrative focuses primarily on survival and escape within a dystopian setting.
No specific characters are identified as LGBTQ+, nor are there any plotlines or discussions related to sexual orientation or gender identity in the film. Mandatory searches for 'The Maze Runner' combined with 'lgbtq', 'gay', 'lesbian', 'transgender', 'queer representation', 'LGBTQ characters', and creator names yielded no relevant results concerning the film's content.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, or overt supernatural themes in 'The Maze Runner' film series. All fantastical elements are presented within a science fiction context.
1. The Grievers are depicted as mechanical, engineered creatures rather than magical or demonic entities. Their ability to sting and infect is part of the scientific experimentation within the dystopian plot. 2. The 'Changing' process, which results from a Griever sting and can be partially reversed by a serum, is a biological/scientific phenomenon within the film's lore, not a supernatural one.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThere are no explicit anti-Christian themes present in 'The Maze Runner' film. The narrative is secular, focusing on science fiction and dystopian survival rather than religious or anti-religious commentary.
1. The film does not engage with religious concepts, Christian beliefs, or any form of spiritual doctrine, maintaining a neutral stance on faith. 2. While 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials' includes a 'term of Christian deity' as part of its profanity, this is an isolated instance of language and does not indicate an overarching anti-Christian theme or sentiment in the film.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
14+ with parental guidance for 13-year-olds. The film's PG-13 rating is justified by intense sci-fi violence, scary creatures, thematic elements of human experimentation, and multiple character deaths. Australian ratings also suggest it is not suitable for children under 13 and recommend parental guidance for 13-14 year olds.
Additional Notes
The film series escalates in intensity, violence, and mature themes across its installments. Parents should be aware that while the first film sets a dark tone, the sequels ('The Scorch Trials' and 'The Death Cure') introduce more graphic violence, explicit substance use, and higher stakes. The underlying themes of sacrifice, leadership, and the fight for freedom can offer discussion points for older teens.
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