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Our take
World War Z is a loud, fast-moving zombie thriller that stays tense almost from the start. Infected crowds swarm through cities, attacks come suddenly, and people panic as the world falls apart. There is gunfire, a frightening plane sequence, and children in danger, though the blood is fairly restrained for a zombie film. We put it at around 14, with a parent nearby for teens who are easily frightened.
Uplifting themes
Family, sacrifice, and keeping your head under pressure run through it, and strangers help each other at real cost. The hopeful note is that cooperation and science might turn the tide The lead stays calm, protective, and resourceful, and various soldiers and scientists risk themselves for others. They are competent and decent more than deeply drawn
Story (may spoil tone)
Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.
Details
Violence Soldiers and civilians fight off the infected with guns, fists, and wha…
Soldiers and civilians fight off the infected with guns, fists, and whatever is to hand, and there are shootings, crashes, and a hurried amputation. It is chaotic and near-constant, but the camera tends to pull back before the worst of the damage
Language The s-word appears fairly often, along with religious exclamations, hel…
The s-word appears fairly often, along with religious exclamations, hell, and b-word insults. There is no f-word, but the swearing sharpens during tense scenes
Drugs / alcohol Alcohol barely registers, limited to a passing mention of wine over din…
Alcohol barely registers, limited to a passing mention of wine over dinner early on. There is no drug use and nothing is dwelt on
Frightening This is where the film earns its weight. Swarms of fast infected pour o…
This is where the film earns its weight. Swarms of fast infected pour over walls and down corridors, the jump scares hit hard, and the sense of a collapsing world barely lets up. It is intense enough to overwhelm younger or anxious viewers
Child peril / abuse The hero's two young daughters are in danger for much of the film, caug…
The hero's two young daughters are in danger for much of the film, caught up in attacks, evacuations, and a chaotic plane scene, and a young boy is taken under his wing. Their fear is a real thread, not a quick scare
Gore / death / weapons People are bitten and turn in seconds, bodies pile up, and there is som…
People are bitten and turn in seconds, bodies pile up, and there is some blood around wounds and a severed hand. For a zombie film it holds back, but the threat of infection is everywhere
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- The scares come from crowds and chaos as much as the infected. How does your teen cope with intense, non-stop tension?
- A father does whatever it takes to protect his family. What would you want to talk about after a disaster story like this?
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World War Z
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