Oct
19
2009
Where the Wild Things Aren’t
This past Saturday I took my three oldest sons to see the movie Where the Wild Things Are. Some Christians are all exercised about the fact that the movie might be too frightening for children. They’re wrong. The movie is not a great one, but that’s not the reason why. As a matter of fact, Where the Wild Things Are fails because it’s not scary enough for your kids.
And there’s something there Chrisians can learn about children, horror, and the gospel.
From the time my sons were babies I’ve read to them the Maurice Sendack classic picture book. They love it, and so do I. They’d sit attentively through Goodnight Moon, but they’d squeal “Let the wild rumpus start!” whenever we’d journey with Max to the place of the wild things.
Children, it turns out, aren’t as naive about evil as we assume they are. Children of every culture, and in every place, seem to have a built-in craving for monsters and dragons and “wild things.” The Maurice Sendak book appeals to kids because it tells them something about what they intuitively know is true. The world around them is scary. There’s a wildness out there. The Sendak book shows the terror of a little boy who is frightened by his own lack of self-control, and who conquers it through self-control, by becoming king of all the wild things.
The Sendak book, with its muted words but fantastic drawings, achieves this sense of wonder and wildness. The movie doesn’t. That’s because the movie tames the wild things too much. It’s not that they’re too scary for children. It’s that they’re not believable as scary. The dialogue sounds like it was lifted from an old episode of Thirtysomething, as the beasts talk through their psychodramas and jealousies and interpersonal offenses with one another. Kids will be entertained because the special effects are good. But they won’t “get it” deep inside like they do the book.
I’m amazed though by the way some Christians react to things like this. They furrow their brow because the Max character screams at this mother, and bites her, even though this is hardly glorified in the movie. They wag their heads at how “dark” the idea of this wild world is. Of course it is “dark.” The universe is dark; that’s why we need the Light of Galilee.
Where the Wild Things Are isn’t going to be a classic movie the way it is a classic book. But the Christian discomfort with wildness will be with us for a while. And it’s the reason too many of our children find Maurice Sendak more realistic than Sunday school.
Too many of our Bible study curricula for children declaw the Bible, excising all the snakes and dragons and wildness. We reduce the Bible to a set of ethical guidelines and a text on how gentle and kind Jesus is. The problem is, our kids know there are monsters out there. God put that awareness in them. They’re looking for a sheep-herding dragon-slayer, the One who can put all the wild things under His feet.
Your kids might be bored by the Wild Things movie. They won’t be bored by the Wild Things book. It’s their story, and mine. But read them the story of Max and his monsters, and then show them the Story they were knit together to love.
And let the wild rumpus start.
12 Comments
Great comments, I think you are right on with this (although, I liked the movie more than it seems you did). Many Bibles for children do just that – they de-claw the Bible and end up being just awful. Even worse, they convey a moralistic view and eliminate the Gospel. Keep up the good work!
Great thoughts, and I agree completely. Though I have yet to see the Where the Wild Things are movie, I felt the same sentiments about the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, particularly the scene of Aslan’s murder…it was a softened version of what is in Lewis’ books and as such lost much of the power that was there. At times we need see the darkness and gruesomeness for all it’s horror. It will do much to renew our gratefulness for the light and joy.
Much thanks for sharing this!
[...] the Wild Things Aren’t I haven’t seen the movie, but I really like Russell Moore’s take on it. Here’s his conclusion. Where the Wild Things Are isn’t going to be a classic movie the way [...]
[...] the Wild Things Are In Culture, Theology on 10/19/2009 at 5:29 PM Russell Moore and World Magazine have good reviews of Where the Wild Things Are. Here is Russell Moore’s [...]
[...] Russ Moore thinks that “Where the Wild Things Are” isn’t scary enough. (No Love Yet) Loading [...]
I think I should probably know more about Maurice Sendak before I comment, but here goes. I can not say whether this brilliant author and illustrator intentionally created a wonderful story around the eternal truths Dr. Moore spoke of, or if he by chance stumbled into them. I do know the books truth and ‘magic’ resonates with multiply generations, for my grandson loves it as much as my own four children did. And I do know I love it as much at the age of 54 as I did at 24. However, I am not surprised that Hollywood did not grasp the essence of Where The Wild Things Are, and was not able to convey it onto the big screen. I, for one, have not seen any blockbuster movies in the recent past, except for maybe one or two, that have portrayed any kind of eternal truths. And maybe even those were, indeed, by accident. It’s such a shame though- can you imagine the positive impact and classic value this movie could have brought—if only Hollywood “got it”?
I would encourage you who haven’t seen the movie yet not to write it off based on Russell’s perspective here. I don’t believe this movie was meant to be exactly like the book, so it’s not fair to treat it as such. I agree with much that is said here. This movie is more ABOUT children than FOR children. But there is much good to be gained from this movie if you view it more open-mindedly and don’t require it to be exactly like the book. Here is my take. http://thunderbeard.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/where-the-wild-things-are/
The book is a timeless treasure. Can you fault Hollywood for trying to turn a classic into a money-making big screen. This is my son’s(and my) favorite childhood book. We actually threw him a ‘Where the Wild Things Are Party’ in May for his 2nd birthday party. I will not be taking him to see the movie but i will definitely purchase the dvd. Regardless, it is such a fun theme and it was rather easy to decorate with palm trees and jungle accessories. The kids had a wonderful time and the parents remembered their childhood. Check out the full party details at http://funjunx.com/wherethewildthingsare.php !!!
[...] Dr. Russell Moore has posted his review of the movie. The short version is – the book is good, but the movie disappointed. The longer, more interesting version is…. [...]
I appreciated this post. As a father of a 3-year old I am amazed at how quickly my daughter recognizes the antagonist in a story and wonders how the problem is going to be remedied. I think you’re right that certain kinds of “horror” (in stories, movies, etc.) can be a great way to contextualize the gospel to kids.
[...] Read as Russell Moore argues that Where the Wild Things Are isn’t scary enough for kids. [...]
Who the real monsters are
The non-existence of any “intelligent designer” is established by the existence of those who can believe in one.
the anti_supernaturalist