X-Men: Apocalypse

Name: X-Men: Apocalypse - Christian Parent's Review
Item: X-Men: Apocalypse
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to X-Men: Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse is a 2016 American superhero film that serves as the ninth installment in the X-Men film series. Directed by Bryan Singer, the movie is set in 1983 and follows the ancient mutant En Sabah Nur, also known as Apocalypse, as he is inadvertently revived after millennia. Disillusioned with humanity, he plans to cleanse the world and establish a new order with himself as supreme ruler, recruiting powerful mutants to serve as his Four Horsemen. Professor Charles Xavier and his young X-Men must unite to stop Apocalypse's global destruction. The film combines intense action, science fiction elements, and themes of power, discrimination, and unity. It is rated PG-13, indicating it contains content that may be unsuitable for pre-teenagers due to its pervasive violence and some suggestive material.

Things to Consider

High3

Violence

The film features intense, frequent, and at times brutal action violence, including pervasive depictions of hand-to-hand combat, weapon use, and large-scale destruction. Many deaths are shown or implied, with graphic injuries and blood depicted.

The movie contains scenes of graphic violence, such as Wolverine's berserker rampage at Alkali Lake, where he stabs and slashes numerous guards, resulting in visible blood splatter and dead bodies. Another instance involves Magneto, who, in a fit of rage after the tragic death of his wife and daughter by police, uses his powers to brutally kill the officers involved. Apocalypse also demonstrates extreme destructive power, using sand to decapitate three men during a conflict. A controversial promotional billboard for the film depicted Apocalypse choking Mystique, highlighting the intense and sometimes brutal nature of the violence.

Witchcraft & Occult

Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the antagonist, Apocalypse, who is depicted as an ancient being performing rituals to transfer his consciousness and powers. His claims of godhood and the enhancement of other mutants' abilities through ancient means contribute significantly to the occultic tone.

The film opens with an ancient Egyptian ritual where Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur) performs a consciousness transfer, moving his essence and accumulated powers into a new, younger mutant body to maintain his immortality and augment his abilities. Later in the film, Apocalypse attempts to transfer his consciousness into Professor X's body to gain his powerful telepathic abilities. Apocalypse presents himself as a god figure, demanding worship and declaring his intent to 'cleanse' and remake the world, which involves empowering his 'Four Horsemen' through mystical-like enhancements of their mutant abilities.

Scary & Intense Content

The film contains highly intense and frightening sequences, including graphic violence, emotionally distressing events like the death of a child, and themes of global destruction and mass peril. These elements are pervasive and can be disturbing for younger viewers.

One of the most emotionally intense scenes involves Magneto witnessing the horrifying deaths of his wife and young daughter, who are accidentally impaled during a confrontation with police. The film also features Wolverine's brutal and bloody escape from William Stryker's facility, characterized by graphic stabbings and slashing, leaving numerous dead and injured guards. Apocalypse's plan to destroy and remake the world leads to widespread devastation, with cities being leveled and the threat of global nuclear armageddon, creating a strong sense of peril and disturbing imagery of mass genocide.

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Medium6

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

Medium6

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

While X-Men: Apocalypse itself does not feature openly LGBTQ+ characters or explicit plotlines, the broader X-Men franchise is widely recognized as an allegory for the LGBTQ+ community, addressing themes of being different, misunderstood, and striving for acceptance. Director Bryan Singer, who is bisexual, has frequently spoken about this allegorical connection within the film series. However, there is no direct LGBTQ+ content within this specific movie's narrative.

The X-Men narrative often serves as an allegory for marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, where mutants face prejudice for their inherent differences. Director Bryan Singer has explicitly acknowledged this allegory, referencing previous films like 'X2: X-Men United' where Iceman's coming-out scene to his parents serves as a powerful metaphor for LGBTQ+ experiences. Within 'X-Men: Apocalypse', there are no explicit romantic relationships or character identities that are confirmed as LGBTQ+ in the film's plot itself. While a review mentions Apocalypse giving Angel a 'gay undercut', this is a subjective interpretation of a character's appearance rather than canon LGBTQ+ content.

Romance and Sexual Content

Romantic elements are present through embraces and kissing, along with some mild suggestive dialogue. Costumes for female characters are noted as scanty or revealing, contributing to 'suggestive images' as indicated by the MPAA rating.

Profanity

The film contains brief strong language, including one instance of the 'f-word,' along with other mild profanities and uses of deity's name in vain. The overall frequency is moderate rather than pervasive.

Substance Use

The movie includes depictions of characters engaging in mild substance use, such as smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol. There are also brief visual references to medical paraphernalia associated with experimental procedures.

Disrespect & Rebellion

Themes of disrespect and rebellion are central to the narrative, as mutants often defy human authority due to widespread fear and discrimination. Key characters embody rebellious attitudes, challenging established rules and leading movements against perceived oppressors.

The overarching theme of the X-Men franchise, and this film, is the struggle of mutants against human prejudice and oppression, leading many mutants to defy human laws and authority figures. Mystique is portrayed as a 'folk hero' to younger mutants, inspiring them to embrace their identities and challenge societal norms, which can be seen as an act of rebellion. Magneto, a central figure, consistently rejects human authority, and after the death of his family, he directly retaliates by violently killing the police officers involved, openly rebelling against human justice.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film presents strong pagan elements through the antagonist, Apocalypse, who claims to be a god and demands worship, directly conflicting with monotheistic Christian beliefs. However, the movie also includes overtly positive Christian references, creating a mixed religious landscape.

Apocalypse repeatedly asserts his godhood, stating, 'Those with the greatest power, this earth will be yours!', and expects mutants and humanity to worship him, which is blasphemous from a Christian perspective. This is evident from his ancient origins as a worshipped figure in Egypt and his desire to re-establish mutant dominance with himself at the helm. Conversely, the film also contains positive Christian references: a government official states that 'our prayers were answered' at the end of the film, and a fast-paced opening montage includes a clear metallic sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying his cross.

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X-Men: Apocalypse presents a complex narrative with themes that both challenge and, in some respects, align with a Christian worldview. At its core, the antagonist Apocalypse embodies a materialistic and naturalistic worldview, driven by the philosophy of "survival of the fittest," believing only the strong should endure and the weak culled to cleanse the world. He proclaims himself a divine figure, adopting names like "Elohim" and "Yahweh," and is depicted with his "Four Horsemen," directly co-opting biblical imagery for his destructive agenda. This portrayal of a self-proclaimed god who seeks to subjugate rather than serve stands in stark contrast to the biblical understanding of a benevolent, sovereign God and the sanctity of all human life, regardless of strength or ability. The film implicitly critiques this false deity, with Professor Xavier asserting, "You're just another false god," highlighting the dangers of pride and ultimate power without moral grounding. Conversely, the X-Men, particularly Professor Xavier, champion themes of unity, embracing differences, and the power of love over fear and hatred, stating, "You will never win because you are alone, and I am not". These resonate with biblical values of community, empathy, and sacrificial love for others. Character morality is generally clear: Apocalypse's vices of tyranny and destruction are ultimately defeated, demonstrating moral accountability. Elements of redemption are present in Magneto's arc, as he is initially consumed by vengeance after profound personal tragedy but eventually chooses to protect his surrogate family—Xavier and Mystique—turning away from Apocalypse's destructive path. The film strongly emphasizes family values, particularly through the formation of "chosen families" among the mutants, with Xavier acting as a paternal figure, contrasting with Apocalypse's tyrannical and manipulative authority. While the film does not explicitly promote Christianity, its depiction of Apocalypse as a false god allows for discussions about idolatry and the nature of true deity. The ultimate victory of the X-Men, achieved through unity, self-sacrifice, and the protection of the innocent, points towards transcendent values that prioritize altruism and community over self-serving power and destruction. This offers Christian parents an opportunity to discuss themes of good versus evil, the dangers of pride, the importance of valuing all life, and finding strength in unity and love, even amidst a narrative that directly misrepresents biblical concepts.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Not recommended for children under 13 years, and potentially not suitable for those under 15, due to intense and frequent action violence, disturbing scenes, a strong sense of peril, and mature themes. The film's PG-13 rating is justified by sequences of violence, destruction, brief strong language, and some suggestive images.

Good to Know

The film is quite long at 144 minutes, which may be a consideration for younger viewers. While there are no confirmed differences across theatrical, extended, or director's cuts that significantly alter the parental guidance concerns, some reviews indicate the film's pacing can feel drawn out in parts. The X-Men franchise generally maintains its allegorical themes of acceptance and discrimination across installments, with 'Apocalypse' continuing this tradition.

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