Max Winslow and the House of Secrets

posted in: Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen | 0

MOVIE TITLE:  Max Winslow and the House of Secrets

RATING:  PG

LENGTH:   1 hour, 38 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE:   B+

 

IN A NUTSHELL:

Directed by Emmy Award-winning editor Sean Olson, this family-friendly film features five teenagers who compete to win a mansion owned by an eccentric billionaire with secrets.  It’s a clean Young Adult thriller that feels a bit like a new generation combination of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory meets and Escape Room with a sweet The Breakfast Club message.

 

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

  • It’s really great to have a spooky movie for families instead of yet one more super bloody horror film.
  • Virtue
  • Honesty
  • There are some spooky moments but nothing super scary for most kids.  One of the teen plays video games with scary creatures he has to kill though.

 

THEMES:

  • “It doesn’t work unless all things work together.” – Max Winslow   (Sydne Mikelle)
  • Have the courage to be the real you
  • We can all be a little better

 

THINGS I LIKED:

  • The house has some cool, high-tech features.
  • Fun fact: the high school scenes were filmed at Bentonville High School in Northwest Arkansas with the real students from the school.
  • Each of the teenagers has a clear personality, so it’s easy to see their flaws and the important lessons they learn.
  • If you enjoy solving puzzles and riddles, you’ll get a kick out of some of the challenges.
  • The humor doesn’t always land but it’s nice that they tried.
  • Keep watching after what you think is the last scene.
  • It feels timely and relevant.
  • There is a youthful vibe to it that reminded me of the Goosebumps

 

 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

  • Some of the acting moments were cringeworthy.
  • That “artificial life form” knight in armor looked an awful lot like a guy in a costume.
  • The lights in the mansion are turned off during the majority of the movie so the scenes will look really dark when viewing the film on small devices during streaming.
  • There are some really lame lines.

 

INTERESTING LINES:

  • “I’d rather you hate the real me than love a total lie.” –  Connor Lawson   (Tanner Buchanan)
  • “Forgiving me won’t change what happened but it could change what will happen to you.” –  Will Winslow   (Chuch Mere)
  • “If technology can create a problem, then why shouldn’t we let it create a solution?” – Atticus Virtue    (Chad Michael Murray)

 

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

 
           

 

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@TrinaBoice

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Author, university professor

Author of 23 books, university professor, mom of 4 awesome sons, movie critic, ice cream lover. Check out her world travels and tips at www.EmptyNestTravelHacker.com

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