The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The Twilight Saga: New Moon is a 2009 vampire romantic fantasy film and the second installment in the Twilight series, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel. Directed by Chris Weitz, the movie follows Bella Swan as she navigates deep depression after her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, leaves her to ensure her safety. She finds solace in her friendship with Jacob Black, who subsequently discovers his identity as a werewolf. The narrative delves into a complicated love triangle and Bella's intense desire to become a vampire to remain with Edward. While focusing on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, the film is geared towards a young adult audience, particularly teenage girls, and contains elements of supernatural conflict and emotional intensity.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe movie contains significant supernatural violence, including physical confrontations between vampires and werewolves. While graphic gore is generally minimal, the depictions of attacks, injuries, and dismemberment are intense. Characters are thrown, slammed, and threatened with deadly force, contributing to a high level of aggressive action.
During Bella's birthday party, Jasper Cullen loses control and lunges at Bella after she gets a paper cut, demonstrating the dangerous bloodlust of vampires. In the climax, Edward is engaged in a violent battle with Felix of the Volturi, where Edward is overpowered and slammed forcefully into the ground. A scene also describes a vampire being dismembered, with its head and limbs torn off, though it is depicted as turning to stone and crumbling rather than showing excessive blood.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the film's narrative, revolving around vampires and werewolves with various supernatural abilities. These include powers such as mind-reading, precognition, pain infliction, and physical transformations. The concept of ancient vampire covens (Volturi) and indigenous shapeshifting lore (Quileute) are fundamental to the storyline, heavily influencing the characters' lives and conflicts.
Vampire characters exhibit diverse supernatural abilities, such as Edward Cullen's mind-reading, Alice Cullen's precognition, and Jane's power to inflict immense pain with a glance. The Quileute tribe members, including Jacob Black, transform into giant wolves, a key plot element rooted in their traditions and described as a 'pagan belief system of animal totemism.'
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie contains high levels of scary and intense content, primarily stemming from Bella's severe emotional distress, themes of suicidal ideation, and dangerous supernatural threats. Bella's prolonged depression leads to reckless self-endangering behavior, while the Volturi vampires and aggressive werewolf transformations create significant suspense and fear.
Following Edward's departure, Bella experiences intense emotional suffering, leading to months of severe depression, isolation, and vivid night terrors. Edward attempts suicide by seeking to provoke the Volturi into killing him, believing Bella is dead, which is a major, intense plot point. Bella also intentionally puts herself in dangerous situations, such as cliff diving and riding motorcycles recklessly, to induce hallucinations of Edward, resulting in a near-drowning and a bloody head injury from a crash.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film presents a worldview that centers on obsessive romantic love, with characters, notably Bella, expressing a willingness to disregard spiritual consequences for the sake of their relationship. Discussions around vampires having or losing their souls and potential damnation are explicit, with Bella stating she does not care about her soul if it means being with Edward. The narrative heavily integrates occult and pagan elements as core tenets of its supernatural world.
Edward expresses profound concern over whether vampires possess souls and their potential damnation, which influences his reluctance to transform Bella. In her intense devotion, Bella explicitly states that she 'doesn't care about her soul' if it means becoming a vampire to remain with Edward eternally.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile the film does not feature explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines, Kristen Stewart, the lead actress, has commented on the 'queer undertones' of the Twilight saga, describing it as a 'gay movie' that explores themes of oppression and forbidden desire. Additionally, one Volturi character is noted for an ability that could be subtly interpreted as encompassing non-heteronormative attraction, though not overtly presented. Fan communities also engage in discussions about the potential non-heterosexual identities of various characters, though these are not canon to the movie's portrayal.
Kristen Stewart, who portrays Bella Swan, has publicly stated that the 'Twilight' saga has 'queer undertones' and is 'such a gay movie,' emphasizing themes of oppression and desiring what is destructive. Heidi, a vampire in the Volturi coven, possesses the power to make herself 'attractive to other people, regardless of species or gender,' which could be subtly interpreted as an inclusive form of attraction.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film focuses heavily on intense romantic relationships, featuring passionate kissing and embracing between Bella and both Edward and Jacob. It frequently displays shirtless male characters, particularly the werewolves, and includes some suggestive dialogue and physical intimacy that stops short of explicit sexual acts.
Bella and Edward are shown engaging in multiple scenes of passionate kissing and intimate embracing, particularly after their reunion. Jacob Black is frequently depicted shirtless, showcasing his muscular physique, and in one scene, Bella touches his bare chest.
Profanity
MediumThe movie includes occasional mild coarse language and terms of deity. While not pervasive, several instances of low-level profanity and derogatory terms are used by characters in moments of frustration or conflict.
Characters occasionally use mild expletives such as 'what the hell' and 'where the hell.' Derogatory terms like 'filthy blood suckers' (referring to vampires) and 'pack of mutts' (referring to werewolves) are used in dialogue to express animosity.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumBella displays significant disrespect and rebellious behavior, particularly concerning her own safety and her father's authority. Her actions, driven by emotional distress and a desire to see Edward, involve intentional self-endangerment and disregard for consequences. This behavior causes considerable worry and conflict within her family.
Bella actively engages in reckless behaviors, like jumping off a cliff and riding motorcycles with strangers, knowing these actions could result in serious harm, despite previous promises to her father, Charlie, to be safe. Her profound depression leads to self-isolation that deeply worries Charlie, causing him to contemplate drastic measures such as sending her to live with her mother, highlighting the strain on their relationship.
Substance Use
LowThe film features very minimal and incidental substance use. There is a brief visual of an adult character with beer and a conversational reference to steroids as a false accusation, but no explicit drug use or smoking is depicted.
Charlie Swan, Bella's father, is briefly seen holding bottles of beer. In dialogue, Jacob's sudden muscular growth prompts a character to falsely accuse him of using 'anabolic steroids.'
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for 'some violence and action.' Parental and educator reviews suggest a more cautious approach, recommending it for ages 13 and over with parental guidance due to mature themes, including intense emotional distress, suicidal ideation, supernatural violence, and suggestive romance. Younger viewers may find the themes of depression and reckless behavior disturbing.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware of the intense emotional content, particularly Bella's depiction of deep depression and reckless behavior, which some sources interpret as glorifying unhealthy coping mechanisms. The film's themes of obsessive love and the blurring of moral lines for romance may warrant discussion with younger viewers. The increased focus on werewolf lore introduces more animalistic and tribal themes compared to the first film.
Related Reviews
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