The Secret of Moonacre
The Secret of Moonacre
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The Secret of Moonacre is a family fantasy with a Victorian fairy tale atmosphere, centered on a lonely young heroine, an old manor, a long standing family feud, and a looming prophecy. Sensitive material mainly includes Maria's bereavement at the start, repeated scenes of danger in the forest, threatening bandits, a dark curse hanging over the valley, and the on screen death of a loyal animal that may be especially upsetting for younger viewers. The film is not graphic and remains clearly aimed at a family audience, yet the sense of menace appears regularly through night scenes, intimidating adults, and urgent peril that can feel intense for children under about eight or nine. For sensitive kids, it helps to explain beforehand that this is a magical adventure with some sad and scary moments, and to watch with them so you can reassure them when the story turns darker.
Synopsis
When 13 year old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with Sir Benjamin, an eccentric uncle she didn't know she had, at the mysterious Moonacre Manor.
Difficult scenes
The story begins after Maria's father's death, and she enters the film already grieving and displaced from her former life. The loss is not shown graphically, but it gives the opening a sad emotional tone that may affect children who are especially sensitive to stories about orphanhood or family separation. Several forest scenes place Maria alone in front of bandits and openly hostile adults, creating a real sense of danger and vulnerability. There are chases, threats of abduction, and sustained tension, even though the overall style stays within fairy tale adventure rather than realistic violence. The curse over the valley creates a fairly dark atmosphere through warnings, family secrets, and shadowy night settings that can feel unsettling. Some adults, especially the uncle at first and the de Noir patriarch, are presented as intimidating figures, which may scare younger viewers even without horror imagery. One notable scene involves the death of Wrolf, the protective dog, during a chase. This can be especially upsetting for children who bond strongly with animal characters, because he functions as a source of safety for Maria and his loss is clearly meant to be felt.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2009
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Countries
- Australia, France, Hungary, United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Gábor Csupó
- Main cast
- Dakota Blue Richards, Ioan Gruffudd, Tim Curry, Augustus Prew, Natascha McElhone, Juliet Stevenson, Tamás Tóth, György Szathmári, George Mendel, Michael Webber
- Studios
- Forgan-Smith Entertainment, Eurofilm Stúdió, South Pacific Pictures, Spice Factory, UK Film Council, Australian Film Commission, Davis Films, Velvet Octopus, Warner Bros. Pictures
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The Secret of Moonacre is a family fantasy with a Victorian fairy tale atmosphere, centered on a lonely young heroine, an old manor, a long standing family feud, and a looming prophecy. Sensitive material mainly includes Maria's bereavement at the start, repeated scenes of danger in the forest, threatening bandits, a dark curse hanging over the valley, and the on screen death of a loyal animal that may be especially upsetting for younger viewers. The film is not graphic and remains clearly aimed at a family audience, yet the sense of menace appears regularly through night scenes, intimidating adults, and urgent peril that can feel intense for children under about eight or nine. For sensitive kids, it helps to explain beforehand that this is a magical adventure with some sad and scary moments, and to watch with them so you can reassure them when the story turns darker.
Synopsis
When 13 year old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with Sir Benjamin, an eccentric uncle she didn't know she had, at the mysterious Moonacre Manor.
Difficult scenes
The story begins after Maria's father's death, and she enters the film already grieving and displaced from her former life. The loss is not shown graphically, but it gives the opening a sad emotional tone that may affect children who are especially sensitive to stories about orphanhood or family separation. Several forest scenes place Maria alone in front of bandits and openly hostile adults, creating a real sense of danger and vulnerability. There are chases, threats of abduction, and sustained tension, even though the overall style stays within fairy tale adventure rather than realistic violence. The curse over the valley creates a fairly dark atmosphere through warnings, family secrets, and shadowy night settings that can feel unsettling. Some adults, especially the uncle at first and the de Noir patriarch, are presented as intimidating figures, which may scare younger viewers even without horror imagery. One notable scene involves the death of Wrolf, the protective dog, during a chase. This can be especially upsetting for children who bond strongly with animal characters, because he functions as a source of safety for Maria and his loss is clearly meant to be felt.