Wendell & Wild
Wendell & Wild is a 2022 American stop-motion animated Gothic comedy horror film directed by Henry Selick, known for "Coraline" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and co-written by Jordan Peele. The story follows Kat Elliot, a rebellious and guilt-ridden teenage orphan haunted by her past, who becomes a "Hell Maiden" capable of summoning demons. She makes a deal with two mischievous demon brothers, Wendell and Wild, who are seeking to escape the underworld and build their own amusement park on Earth. This unleashes chaos and undead mayhem in her desolate hometown of Rust Bank, which is being exploited by a corrupt corporate entity. The film explores themes of grief, trauma, corruption, and the private prison system, blending dark fantasy elements with social commentary. It features a distinct visual style characteristic of Selick's work, utilizing stop-motion animation to create both eerie and imaginative environments. The movie is primarily targeted at older children and teenagers, carrying a PG-13 rating due to its thematic material, violence, substance use, and language, suggesting it may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe movie contains significant instances of violence, including accidental deaths, murder, implied physical abuse, and graphic depictions of resurrected corpses. Some scenes involve blood and disturbing imagery, contributing to a high intensity level.
Kat's parents die in a car accident where their vehicle crashes into water and they drown, an event that deeply traumatizes Kat. Father Bests is murdered by the Klaxons, bludgeoned with a golf club and thrown into a river, with brief sight of blood. Resurrected corpses are shown in advanced states of decay, including worms crawling over and bursting out of their mouths.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the movie's plot, featuring demons, Hell, and various magical practices. The protagonist, Kat, is a "Hell Maiden" with powers to summon and control demons, and other characters, including a nun, also engage in magic and rituals.
Kat is revealed to be a "Hell Maiden" with the ability to summon and control demons, a power central to the narrative. She performs an occult ritual involving a possessed teddy bear and speaking Latin to release demons from Hell, making a pact of servitude for favors. Kat and Sister Helley, a nun who is also a Hell Maiden, utilize a "blood bind" spell to confront Kat's memories.
Scary & Intense Content
HighAs a gothic comedy horror film, "Wendell & Wild" contains numerous scary and intense elements, including frightening monsters, demons, and disturbing imagery. The narrative also delves into themes of trauma, grief, and panic attacks, contributing to emotional intensity.
Scary-looking monsters and demons are prevalent throughout the film, designed to frighten younger audiences. The movie includes "creepy imagery," "animated blood," and "ghost corpses," along with several "grossout moments." Kat experiences nightmares and struggles with panic attacks and PTSD stemming from the traumatic death of her parents.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film features a transgender character, Raúl, who is a friend of the protagonist, Kat. His identity is explicitly stated, with his mother affirming his gender. This representation is presented as a part of the character's identity within the narrative.
Raúl, a friend of Kat, is identified as a transgender character. It is mentioned that he "was born Ramona," and his mother states she has "a son, not a daughter." Sam Zelaya voices Raúl, portraying him as a "transgender teen still finding his place in the world."
Profanity
MediumThe film includes occasional mild to moderate profanity, with several common expletives and instances of God's name being misused. Insults are also used by characters throughout the dialogue.
A handful of uses of words like “a–,” the British expletive “bloody,” “d–n,” and “h–l” are present in the dialogue. God's name is abused four times, and an additional four times in a background song. Characters also use insults such as "stupid" and "blowhard."
Substance Use
MediumThe film features implied drug use through a magical hair cream that causes psychedelic hallucinations in the demon brothers. Additionally, alcohol consumption is shown in various scenes, primarily involving adult characters.
Wendell and Wild consume their father's magical hair cream, leading to a psychedelic hallucination of Kat, which is framed as having drug-like effects. Kat's deceased parents owned a brewery, and scenes depict people drinking alcohol and champagne. Some characters are seen acting as if they are intoxicated.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe main protagonist, Kat, is characterized by her rebellious nature and acts of defiance against authority figures and societal norms. While sometimes justified by larger themes of injustice, these actions are frequently portrayed.
Kat Elliot embodies a "punk-rebel style" and immediately breaks her Catholic school's dress code upon arrival. Her background as a "juvenile delinquent" includes an incident where she pushed a bully down a flight of stairs, leading to her being sent to juvenile detention. Characters are also shown to lie and steal throughout the film.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile the film is set in a Catholic school and features Christian symbols like crosses, it also portrays religious figures in a negative light. A key plot element involves the head of the Catholic school being corrupt and colluding with villains, and a nun character is revealed to be a "Hell Maiden" involved with magic.
Father Bests, the head of the all-girls Catholic school, is depicted as being complicit in the Klaxons' corrupt scheme to build a private prison. The film presents a narrative "trope of every religious person secretly being corrupt," with Sister Helley, a nun, being the only exception, but she is also a "Hell Maiden" who uses magic.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content is minimal and not explicit. There are implied crushes and some suggestive dialogue, but no graphic sexual acts or nudity are depicted. The focus remains on platonic friendships and family dynamics.
Raúl is noted to have a crush on Kat that is "obvious to everyone but her." One demon, Wild, makes a suggestive remark to his brother Wendell, saying he is “shooting blanks.” Additionally, Wild is shown hiding things in his "trousers (which don't have pockets)."
Other Notes
Target Demographic
PG-13. The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for thematic material, violence, substance use, and brief strong language. Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 11 and up. Director Henry Selick intended it for a PG-13 audience, finding that 10-14 year-olds understood it best. The presence of disturbing imagery, intense themes of death and trauma, and occult content makes it unsuitable for younger children, while older tweens and teens may be able to process its complex narrative and darker elements.
Additional Notes
The film is a standalone production and does not have sequels or adaptations that introduce new or intensified content in a franchise context. It integrates social commentary on issues like the private prison system and corporate greed into its dark fantasy narrative. The creators aimed to balance horror and comedy, with director Henry Selick noting it's "strong medicine emotionally and visually" but not intended to permanently scar children.
Related Reviews
Is Wendell & Wild right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required