Kong: Skull Island Parent Guide

In Kong: Skull Island, it’s 1973 and the Vietnam War has just ended. It appears mankind has claimed every last spec of the world. But Bill Randa (John Goodman) believes there is still something on the globe we don’t know about. When NASA’s first global mapping satellite discovers an unchartered landmass, the firm believer in monsters is convinced the curious locale holds a big secret. Yet the only way Randa can convince Senator Willis (Richard Jenkins) to mobilize a military escort to take a team to “Skull Island” is to fabricate the intent of the mission. Suggesting that there may be valuable things to discover, and that the US does not want the Russians getting there first, does the trick.

Cloaked and surrounded by a continual storm that has mysteriously claimed a variety of ships over the centuries, the army calls upon Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) to head up the expedition to the island. Also joining the entourage is Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), a photojournalist looking for an exclusive story, and former British-Special-Forces-turned-professional-jungle-guide James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston). Finally, there’s a bevy of other participants who will ultimately become collateral damage and tasty morsels for what’s ahead.

To its credit, this movie reveals its monster early in the game. Purported to be the biggest Kong ever to grace the silver screen, the digital creature is imposing and protective of his natural habitat. Slapping down Huey helicopters like a camper going after mosquitoes, members of this crew with minimal speaking roles are soon dispatched in flames. However, the secrets this island holds go far beyond the giant ape. A wide variety of enormous zoological splendors awaits, and most of them are happy to encounter some fresh meat.

The assortment of food choices and jungle-dwelling munching monsters fills much of the film’s runtime where big things are seen being devoured by even bigger things. Some blood is depicted during the often shocking portrayals. A character is impaled by a giant insect, others are swept up and chewed, dismembered and regurgitated as bones. If the purpose is to make you go “eeew!”, then the script works well. You’ll also hear several mild and moderate profanities, as well as a sexual expletive.

With the body count quickly climbing, and Randa’s ulterior motives revealed, Packard initiates a power play and divides the group between those who want to kill anything that could pose danger to the outside world and those who fear disturbing the unique ecosystem could create even greater problems. This conflict applies to much of our decisions today as humans attempt to play the god of this world, determining what lives and what dies. One thing is certain though, the creators of this fictitious realm are hoping Kong will live long and prosper at the box office.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.