When it comes to zombie movies, it’s rare that there’s something to watch with the whole family. This is a genre that ends up being a little too scary for many. Well, Night of the Zoopocalypse changes all of that with a great story for the whole family.
The movie turns zoo animals into zombies, all thanks to a meteor landing on Earth. That meteor spreads a virus that turns the animals into monsters, and the surviving animals need to work together to protect the rest of the survivors.
This is more than just a fight against monsters. Night of the Zoopocalypse offers viewers a chance to see that different species can work together. A mountain lion and a wolf need to lead the pack together, and they need to make sure they don’t snack on the prey at the same time. It’s up to smaller animals that would usually be victims of these creatures to trust their new leaders to get to safety.
Night of the Zoopocalypse age rating: Why is this movie rated PG?
The official age rating is PG, which means that it’s suitable for children but younger children will want their parents with them. Those under seven will usually want to watch with parental guidance, but older than that, and they’ll find the humor and genius storytelling.
Sex & nudity: Let’s just start with the fact that this is a kids’ movie that involves animals. There is no sex or nudity shown throughout it. There aren’t even mentions of it.
Violence & gore: This is where some of the scarier scenes come into play. While it involves animals in a zoo, it’s still a zombie movie at its heart. The animated monsters are done in a unique way that makes them disgusting but intriguing. You just can’t take your eyes off them. There are a few moments of fights and terrifying bites, but they’re mixed in with the suspense of whether the group of survivors is going to make it through the night until human help arrives.
The funny thing about the violence is that it’s made to look in a cute way. The movie starts with a rabbit biting other animals and infecting them with the zombie virus. It’s hard to get scared at a gummy-like zombie rabbit!
Language: This movie is made for the whole family. There is no profanity at all throughout.
Alcohol & drugs: While there isn’t any use of alcohol and drugs as we know them, there’s a scene that I do want to warn you about without too much in the way of spoilers. There’s an animal that inhales a gas as if it’s trying to get high on the stuff. I think it’s supposed to be oxygen, but it could be laughing gas. Either way, the air isn’t going to do a lot of harm, but there may be a discussion to be had if children ask about it.
Overall verdict: Who is Night of the Zoopocalypse appropriate for?
This is a movie for the whole family. Very small children may find some of the scenes a little disturbing and scary, but those who are around seven and older will certainly appreciate the story. If your children have seen the likes of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit or ParaNorman, they’ll have an idea of what to expect in this tale when it comes to gore.
This movie is made with children in mind, which is likely why it’s getting some negative reviews from the critics — I swear, critics often forget who the movies are made for. It’s just a bit of fun with some intriguing artwork within the animation.
Night of the Zoopocalypse is available in theaters now.