The Netflix animated film The Willoughbys recently hit the streaming service and has children and adults buzzing – but is it too scary for young kids? Based on the book by Lois Lowry, the film has the same dark tone as those of other classical fairytales. While the grim fairytale plot may deter some viewers, The Willoughbys offers a story about a whimsical adventure sure to keep kids glued to the screen.
The Willoughbys follows four neglected children whose selfish and self-absorbed parents leave them hungry, desperate, and unloved. Feeling they would be better off as orphans, the Willoughby children hatch a plan to send their parents on a dangerous vacation, leaving the kids to their own devices. Throughout the film, they meet a cast of out-of-the-box characters – like Commander Melanoff, a rich candy factory owner played by Terry Crews – who show them love and provide examples of solid parental figures.
Some parents may wonder if The Willoughbys is too dark and scary for younger children, as it uses themes not typically addressed in children’s animated films. While there is no use of inappropriate language in The Willoughbys, there are some scenes featuring mild violence and deaths do occur – though the filmmakers do what they can to make them seem rather humorous to mask the reality of the morbid theme. There is a scene of the Willoughby parents starving their children and another in which the parents are presumed dead. On top of that, topics such as adoption, orphans, child abuse, and abandonment are addressed throughout the film. While there is no sexual content, the parents tend to be quite affectionate towards each other and make suggestive comments and gestures at times.
While The Willoughbys may follow these neglected and otherwise unloved children, at the heart, it is a story of family and finding the true meaning of what it means to be loved. Under the direction of director Kris Pearn, and co-directors Cory Evans and Rob Lodermeier, the dark themes explored in The Willoughbys are contrasted with bright colors, vibrant character designs and visuals that pop, such as clouds that look like fluffy candy floss and the cupcakes that sit atop Commander Melanoff’s shoulders, thus masking the serious topics with fun and engaging children’s animations.
While some viewers might be turned away from The Willoughbys due to its dark and depressing surface content, what lies deep down is incredibly powerful. The Cat, played by comedian Ricky Gervais, said it best: “Determination, imagination, hope…the best stories are the hard ones.” The Willoughbys is an adventure-filled, whimsical reminder for children and adults of the power and true value of family, and its mature elements aren’t dissimilar to those found in many classic fairy tales. Though parents of children sensitive to some of the issues may want to review The Willoughbys for themselves first, it should be appropriate viewing for all ages.
