Story
The Maze Runner is a science fiction movie based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner.
The movie is about 16-year-old boy Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), who wakes up in a rusty lift able to remember only his name. He soon learns that he has been delivered into The Glade – the centre of an intricate maze that is inhabited by approximately 60 other teenage boys. They must survive in this entirely enclosed environment, using their own agriculture and supplies to get by. Every 30 days, a new boy arrives.
During their time in the maze, the boys are frequently attacked by Grievers, which are horrifying mechanical creatures that bite and eat the humans. One bite from a Griever turns a boy into a violent, zombie-like creature that tries to attack the others.
Since the original group was delivered into the Glade two years ago, the boys have been trying to discover a way out of the maze, but they’ve been gradually losing hope. When a girl arrives with a mysterious note, the world of the Glade starts to change.
Themes
Violence
The Maze Runner has a lot of violence, some of it intense and disturbing. For example:
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
The Maze Runner shows some use of substances. For example:
- A group of boys drink a mysterious homemade liquid that seems to have the same effects as alcohol.
- A boy is injected with a blue serum.
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
The Maze Runner has coarse language and name-calling.
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Maze Runner is about the strength of the human spirit and the human determination to overcome totalitarian oppression. It offers viewers a great deal to think about in relation to basic survival, the nature of leadership and the difficulties of making tough decisions for a community’s greater good.
The movie also highlights the strength of friendship and its power in helping to overcome obstacles, in addition to the foundation of trust, collaboration and respect that underlies the best relationships.
The Maze Runner deserves its M rating. It is very suspenseful and includes some intensely violent and disturbing scenes, including the violent deaths of teenagers. Therefore we do not recommend it for children under 15 years.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include the following:
- Know when to stand up against authority and ensure that your voice is heard.
- Be prepared to talk about doubts and to question the opinions of others.