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Underland

Name: Underland - Christian Parent's Review
Item: Underland
Rating: 4
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Underland

Underland (2026) is a visually stunning and philosophical documentary film, adapted from Robert Macfarlane's bestselling book and directed by Robert Petit. Narrated by Sandra Hüller, the movie takes audiences on a cinematic journey into various subterranean realms across the globe, including ancient Mayan caves, flooded urban storm drains, and deep scientific laboratories. The documentary explores humanity's ancient connection to the hidden world beneath our feet, delving into themes of deep time, environmental impact, and the human drive to explore the unknown. It is described as a meditative and immersive experience, focusing on natural beauty, scientific inquiry, and existential questions rather than a traditional narrative or action-driven plot. The film is suitable for mature audiences interested in science, nature, philosophy, and environmental themes, offering a contemplative look at our planet's concealed dimensions and our place within them.

Things to Consider

Medium3

ViolenceWitchcraft & OccultScary & Intense Content

Low6

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityRomance and Sexual ContentProfanitySubstance UseDisrespect & RebellionAnti-Christian Themes

Medium3

Violence

The documentary is not centered around violence, but it does include references to death, human remains, and the remnants of human civilization in a somber, reflective context. There is no depiction of active or graphic violence.

The film includes "tantalizing glimpses – a diver discovering a skull underwater" and explores "underwater burial chambers". It also features urban explorer Bradley Garrett who "witnesses the remnants of life in the drain system. People live down there: the undesirable, unseen people above ground making their way down to escape from the elements", and observes "discarded materials: cars, washing machines, and everything our modern world wants to get rid of". Archaeologist Fátima Tec Pool and her team ponder "what horror awaited her ancestors whose torches went out while deep inside the caves".

Witchcraft & Occult

The documentary touches upon ancient myths, sacred sites, and the spiritual understanding of the underworld, particularly in the context of Mayan culture. This is presented from an anthropological and philosophical perspective rather than depicting active practice of witchcraft or overt occult rituals.

Scary & Intense Content

The documentary, while beautiful, can be intense and potentially unsettling due to its exploration of dark, confined, and mysterious subterranean spaces, as well as its existential themes concerning human insignificance and legacy. It may evoke claustrophobia or a sense of dread for some viewers.

Reviews describe the documentary as "thrilling, unnerving" and state that "agoraphobic viewers might find Underland tough to take". The exploration of "the dark void" and the "fear of the dark" is a central theme. The film features scenes of explorers "crawling through ice caves" and navigating storm drains, which can be visually and atmospherically intense. Sandra Hüller's narration states, "In the earth, we not only place what we love … but what we fear and wish to lose", highlighting the unsettling aspects of the underground.

Low6

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

No specific LGBTQ+ or gender identity content was identified in the available reviews or descriptions of the 'Underland (2026)' documentary. The film's focus is on geological, archaeological, and scientific exploration of subterranean environments and human connection to these spaces, not on social identity themes. Comprehensive searches for LGBTQ+ keywords yielded no relevant information pertaining to the characters, plot, or themes of this specific documentary.

Searches for 'Underland (2026) lgbtq', 'Underland (2026) gay', 'Underland (2026) lesbian', 'Underland (2026) transgender', 'Underland (2026) queer representation', 'Underland (2026) LGBTQ characters', and 'Underland (2026) director lgbtq' returned no information about LGBTQ+ themes or characters within the documentary. The content is consistently described as a nature and science documentary, with no mention of character sexual orientation or gender identity.

Romance and Sexual Content

There is no indication of any romance or sexual content in 'Underland (2026)'. The documentary focuses purely on scientific, archaeological, and philosophical exploration of the Earth's subterranean realms.

Profanity

No instances of profanity or strong language are reported in any of the available reviews for 'Underland (2026)'. The narration is described as poetic and restrained.

Substance Use

There is no mention or depiction of substance use in the available reviews and descriptions of 'Underland (2026)'. The content focuses on scientific and exploratory themes.

Disrespect & Rebellion

No specific instances of disrespect or rebellion are noted in the descriptions of 'Underland (2026)'. The individuals featured are explorers and scientists driven by curiosity and respect for their fields and the environments they study.

Anti-Christian Themes

The documentary approaches religious and spiritual concepts, such as ancient myths and sacred sites (e.g., Mayan caves), from an observational and philosophical standpoint, exploring humanity's diverse connections to the 'underworld.' It does not appear to promote explicitly anti-Christian themes but rather presents a pluralistic view of human spirituality and belief systems in relation to nature.

The film touches on how "Myths about underworlds span across cultures and religions" and explores "ancient sacred caves" where Mayan ancestors "treated the caves as a sacred place". Sandra Hüller's narration at times "feels like she is reading scripture from a lost world". While exploring varied spiritual interpretations of subterranean realms, there is no evidence of direct mockery or criticism of Christian beliefs.

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Underland (2026) presents a profound exploration of the Earth's hidden depths, inviting a Christian worldview analysis on themes of creation, human stewardship, and our place in the cosmos. The documentary's reverence for the natural world and its ancient processes can resonate with the biblical understanding of God's magnificent creation (Psalm 19:1-4). The film's emphasis on "deep time" and the vastness of geological history may challenge conventional young-earth creationist views but can also be seen through the lens of God's eternal nature and His intricate design unfolding over eons. The narrative highlighting human impact on the environment, such as discarded materials in storm drains and the legacy we leave for future generations, aligns with biblical calls for responsible stewardship of God's earth (Genesis 2:15). The film's characters are driven by curiosity and a desire for knowledge, which can be viewed as a reflection of humanity's God-given intellect and impulse to understand the world (Proverbs 25:2). While it touches on "ancient myths" and "sacred Mayan caves," presenting a pluralistic view of human spirituality, a Christian perspective would discern these through the truth of the Gospel, acknowledging diverse human attempts to connect with the divine while upholding Christ as the sole path to God. The film's existential ponderings on humanity's smallness in the face of vast geological time can foster humility and point to the transcendent God who is sovereign over all creation and time (Isaiah 40:28). There are no overt themes of redemption in a Christian sense, but the exploration of human legacy and the invitation to consider our role as 'good ancestors' implicitly aligns with principles of foresight, responsibility, and caring for future generations, echoing biblical commands for intergenerational faithfulness. Family values are not a central theme, nor is explicit faith representation, but the documentary's respectful and awe-filled tone towards the natural world can inspire reverence for the Creator.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 12+ due to its philosophical and sometimes unsettling existential themes, occasional eerie visuals, and discussions of death or human impact on the environment. While lacking graphic violence or explicit content, the profound subject matter and potential for claustrophobia might be intense for younger children.

Good to Know

Due to 'Underland (2026)' being a documentary focused on scientific and philosophical themes, many typical narrative content concerns (violence, romance, profanity) are minimal or absent. The primary intensity for parents will stem from the film's atmospheric and existential elements, particularly for viewers sensitive to claustrophobia or discussions of human mortality and environmental impact. The film's deep exploration of 'deep time' and human legacy might be profound but potentially challenging for some younger audiences. While the film premiered at Tribeca in 2025, some sources list its broader release or specific festival screenings in 2026, which is why detailed MPAA ratings or universal age-specific feedback from mainstream parental outlets are not yet widely available.

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