3 Things Every Parent Should Know about ‘Sketch,’ Angel’s New Monster Movie

Audio By Carbonatix

1. It's a Story about Terrifying and Tame Monsters

Sketch opens with Amber's father meeting with a concerned school counselor, both unsure how to help Amber deal with her growing anger. The scene then shifts to her brother, Jack, who is taking a stroll near the same wooded pond. He trips, cuts his hand, and watches helplessly as his phone slips from his grip and splashes into the water. When Jack retrieves it, the screen is cracked -- but then, before his eyes, it miraculously begins to repair itself. 

The backdrop to this strange story is the family's grief-filled home. Amber's mother has recently died and her father, Taylor, is desperately trying to hold things together -- searching for the patience and wisdom to raise two children without the woman he loves. Meanwhile, his sister -- a realtor -- is trying to help him sell the house.

It's one of the most imaginative stories ever released by Angel Studios, filled with monsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. Some, like the spider-like creatures, are more humorous than harmful -- and can be killed with a simple swat of the hand. (They burst into colorful dust, hinting they came straight from Amber's sketchbook.) A handful of the monsters fall somewhere in between, towering over a school bus yet looking comically absurd. But one or two are genuinely frightening. In the film's final scenes, a zombie-like figure in a tattered hoodie -- limping and menacing -- confronts Amber, her brother and their friend Bowman.

This film may be too intense for sensitive children, but for older kids and teens who regularly watch superhero and fantasy movies, it is likely well within their comfort zone.

Photo Credit: ©Angel

2. It's Really a Story about Something Else

Throughout the film, you're left wondering: What's fueling Amber's anger -- and what is up with that strange pond? The film delivers answers to the former question, but not necessarily the latter.

Amber's emotion-laden drawings, as you may have guessed, are fueled by her grief over her mother's death -- and by her father's quiet refusal to face it. He never talks about their mom. He's taken her photos off the walls. And now, he's planning a move to a new house, seemingly in an effort to leave the past behind. 

Ironically, it is Amber -- the misunderstood girl others ridicule -- who is the most emotionally stable. 

"The dad is trying to get through this, and he thinks the best way to do it is to just kind of not talk about it and just move on," producer Steve Taylor told Crosswalk. 

It's the father's sister -- the family's realtor -- who finally realizes: Maybe it's not Amber they should be most concerned about, but the boys, who are burying their pain instead of facing it.

Photo Credit: ©Angel

3. It Includes Faces and Names You Know

Sketch stars Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Veep) as the father -- an actor families may recognize as the voice of Forky in the Toy Story films. D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place) portrays his sister.

The trio of young actors -- Bianca Belle (Amber), Kue Lawrence (Jack), and Kalon Cox (Bowman) -- is as good as you'll see in any mainstream film. Belle is fantastic in the lead role.

The film includes no sexual content and only minor language (details below).  

Taylor describes the film as a cross between Inside Out and Jurassic Park. 

"I think it's really important that we support family movies that are original, because most stuff that's getting made these days is not original -- and we want and need more original voices," he said. 

Sketch is a fresh, imaginative film that keeps you guessing while delivering a powerful message for audiences.

Sketch is rated PG for scary action, some violence, thematic elements, language and rude humor. Language details: s--t (1), OMG (1), h-ll (4), b----rd (2), a-- (2).

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

Discussion Questions for Families

• Why do you think Amber used drawing to express her feelings instead of talking about them? 
• Have you ever used creativity to process your emotions? 
• What can we learn from each family's individual response to grief? 
• What does the Bible say about grief -- and about walking with others through their grief? 
• How does God comfort us in our grief?

Photo Credit: ©Angel