Locke & Key
Locke & Key is a fantasy drama and supernatural horror television series developed for Netflix, based on the comic book series of the same name. The narrative centers on the Locke family—mother Nina and her three children, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode—who relocate to their ancestral home, Keyhouse, in Matheson, Massachusetts, after the tragic murder of their father, Rendell Locke. Upon arrival, the children discover a collection of mysterious magical keys hidden throughout the house, each possessing unique supernatural abilities. As they uncover the keys' secrets and learn to wield their powers, they become embroiled in a dangerous conflict with a malevolent demonic entity, Dodge, who also seeks the keys for nefarious purposes. The series blends elements of fantasy, mystery, and horror, exploring themes of grief, trauma, family bonds, and self-discovery within a magical setting, while presenting a slightly toned-down version of the horror from its source material to appeal to a broader teenage audience.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe show contains frequent instances of violence, including moderate to graphic depictions of death and peril. These range from shootings and stabbings to magical incineration and attacks by supernatural entities. While the series tones down gore compared to its comic counterpart, violence remains a central and impactful element of the plot.
The series opens with the graphic murder of Rendell Locke, the family patriarch, who is shot by Sam Lesser. A man dies by magically incinerating himself after stabbing himself in the chest with the Matchstick Key. Dodge, in demon form, pushes a teenager in front of a moving subway train, resulting in their death. Characters are regularly attacked by menacing shadow figures, particularly in sequences like the 'Crown of Shadows' attack on Keyhouse, which inflict physical harm.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the entire series, driving the core plot. The narrative revolves around magical keys, a malevolent demonic entity, and a portal to another dimension, with demons frequently possessing human hosts.
The Locke siblings discover numerous magical keys in Keyhouse, each granting unique supernatural powers, such as the Ghost Key that allows one's spirit to leave their body, and the Shadow Key which enables control over shadowy entities. The primary antagonist, Dodge, is a demonic entity that seeks to gather all the keys for destructive purposes, and these demons are shown possessing human bodies like Lucas Caravaggio, Eden Hawkins, and Jackie Veda. The 'Black Door' serves as a crucial plot device, acting as a portal to a dimension filled with demons, from which both 'whispering iron' (used to forge keys) and demonic beings emerge into the human world.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series maintains a consistent tone of supernatural horror and suspense, featuring intense monster/slasher-type scares, disturbing imagery, and jump scares. Life-threatening situations involving demonic entities and psychological terror are frequently central to the storyline.
The show is characterized by 'intense monster/slasher-type scares' and frequently depicts situations of 'death, peril, and gore' due to the supernatural threats. Kinsey Locke, one of the protagonists, uses a key to extract her fear, which then takes on a grotesque demonic form that haunts her and causes jump scares. Antagonists like Dodge and Captain Frederick Gideon create a sense of terror, and scenes often involve characters being chased, attacked, or threatened by shadowy figures and possessed individuals within the old, mysterious Keyhouse.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe series includes openly gay characters and explores bisexuality, particularly through a major antagonist. Themes related to gender identity are present via a magical key that enables characters to change sex, although its use by the antagonist is critically viewed as manipulative rather than a nuanced exploration of identity.
Uncle Duncan Locke is an openly gay character who is in a committed relationship with his male partner, Brian Rogen. In Season 2, Duncan announces his engagement to Brian. The primary antagonist, Dodge, is portrayed as bisexual, demonstrating romantic and sexual attraction to both male and female characters, including Kinsey Locke and Tyler Locke, with whom Dodge shares a kiss and implied sexual encounter. In the comic source material, Dodge (a demonic entity) and Duncan utilize a 'Gender Key' to change their sex, an act that some analyses criticize for diminishing the complexity of gender identity when used for manipulation.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic relationships among teenage characters are depicted, featuring kissing and implied sexual activity. While some scenes involve partial undressing and suggestive situations, the series generally avoids explicit sexual acts or nudity.
Teenagers are shown engaging in kissing and other romantic interactions, with at least one instance of partial undressing in a bedroom scene, though no explicit sexual acts are shown. The character Tyler Locke has an implied sexual encounter with Dodge. Dodge also manipulates Sam Lesser through seduction, initiating a romantic connection that serves the antagonist's goals.
Profanity
MediumThe series incorporates moderate profanity, with various curse words used occasionally, especially during intense or emotional moments. Stronger expletives are present alongside milder terms and offensive gestures.
Characters frequently use words such as 'shit,' 'bullshit,' 'hell,' and 'ass' throughout the series. The stronger expletive 'f--k' is also used multiple times. A character is shown making a middle-finger gesture, conveying disrespect. Additionally, there are instances where religious names, specifically 'Jesus' and 'God,' are used as expletives.
Substance Use
MediumSubstance use is depicted in the series, primarily involving teenagers consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana at parties. A significant storyline also addresses a parent's struggle with alcoholism and a brief relapse.
Teenage characters are shown drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at parties, often without immediate, explicit negative consequences being highlighted. Nina Locke, the mother of the main protagonists, is a recovering alcoholic who experiences a brief but impactful relapse, notably after the traumatic events surrounding Sam's death.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumInstances of disrespect and rebellion are present, primarily through the interactions and attitudes of teenage characters. This includes the use of bullying language, defiant gestures, and a broader narrative where children must operate independently due to adults' magical inability to remember the supernatural world.
Teenage characters are shown using bullying and insulting language towards each other, including terms such as 'p---y,' 'screwed,' and 'douche bag.' A character is depicted making a middle-finger gesture, which is an act of defiance or disrespect. The fundamental premise of the show involves the Locke children navigating dangerous magical secrets largely on their own, as adults are magically compelled to forget about the keys and their effects, fostering an environment where children are frequently rebellious or independent out of necessity.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe series does not prominently feature anti-Christian themes. Its supernatural elements are rooted in fantasy horror tropes involving demons and magic, rather than direct criticism or mockery of Christian beliefs. The use of religious figures as expletives is noted under profanity.
No explicit scenes or plotlines were found that mock Christian beliefs, depict sacrilegious acts against Christian symbols, or promote overt anti-Christian messages. The primary antagonists are demons from another dimension, a common element in fantasy and horror genres, without specific anti-Christian framing. While some characters use 'Jesus' and 'God' as expletives, this falls under the 'Profanity' concern and does not indicate broader anti-Christian thematic content.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
14+ - The series is officially rated TV-14 by Netflix due to its moderate threat, violence, and language. Common Sense Media suggests 13+, while some parental discussions indicate caution for those under 14, or even 16-17, owing to intense monster scares, frequent death, implied sexual content, and mature themes surrounding trauma and grief.
Additional Notes
The series, particularly in comparison to the comic books it's based on, generally aims for a slightly less graphic and intense presentation of its horror elements, making it more accessible to a young adult audience. However, parents should be aware that the core themes of grief, trauma, and confronting evil are explored with significant emotional weight.
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