Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids?

Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga OK for kids? Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie safe for kids? Read the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Mad Max prequel sequel film Furiosa 2024, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Chris Hemsworth as Dr. Dementus. No spoilers! #Furiosa #MadMax May contain commissioned links.

Parents Guide Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids?

From the demented yet chaotically brilliant mind of George Miller (can we all take a second to comprehend that this is also the same director behind sweet film franchise Happy Feet?) comes the 9-year in the making prequel that Mad Max cult fans have been madly anticipating for the summer of 2024.

And while I’m definitely not the one for dystopian post-apocalyptic violence films, I finally sat down and watched the originals and the latest Fury Road film to get a better picture of why we needed a prequel sequel. A franchise ahead of it’s time, I’ll admit that this sandbox of toxic action-packed violence has it’s moments. But it wasn’t until I sat down for Charlize Theron‘s performance that I understood. Furiosa’s revenge story isn’t finished. She deserves another film.

But does this Mad Max prequel handle like Mad Max: Fury Road? Or are fans revving up their engines for a huge Valhalla letdown?

In this Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full R age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie parents guide to the new Mad Max 2024 summer flick. A no-spoiler parent review of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 2024, can Anya Taylor-Joy performance rival that of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa?

Or is this the end for the Mad Max universe?

The Visuals

Visually Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga definitely fits within the wasteland universe. Leaning into the desert scenes – the landscapes are beautiful, the costuming is on point, and the details are believably dark and twisted. The camera movements and special effects are heavily focused on the sci-fi and CGI thematic elements to enhance the action sequences and car chase scenes.

Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has no scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note. There are no scenes with dizzying and fast spinning camera movements that could be nausea inducing – but there are multiple scenes with fast car chases.

The Story

Directed and written by Mad Max creator George Miller (“Happy Feet“), Warner Bros. Pictures Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 2024 movie is officially the fifth installment into the Mad Max universe and the prequel to 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road starring Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit“) as Imperator Furiosa, Chris Hemsworth (“Thor: Love and Thunder“) as Dementus, Tom Burke (BBC’s “The Musketeers“) as Praetorian Jack, and Alyla Browne (“Sting“) as young Furiosa.

The story follows young Imperator Furiosa, who is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa finds herself in a nonstop battle to get home.

Mad Max: Fury Road fans will appreciate the insight into Furiosa’s back story. But plot filling requires a little more dialogue and less of what Mad Max movies do best – race across the wasteland with explosively violent results.

But that’s not to say that Miller has totally lost his (mad) touch. He’s actually given chapters to this Mad Max prequel sequel – each with it’s own title and direction. And he’s expanded the universe to explain and give the audience more insight into building of this world. But war over territory and resources gets a little old and predictable. But the real question is – is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga for kids?

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie R Rating Explained

Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga safe for kids? Another Mad Max film that is rated R? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.

PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.

Why is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga rated R? In this Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga prequel is rated R for “sequences of strong violence, and grisly images.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie is kid friendly. Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie too violent for kids? Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie OK for kids? Let’s breakdown that R age rating in this Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga parents guide.

Violence/Suspense. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is notoriously known for the intense, gory, and brutally in-your-face violence. Expect lots of fist fighting and hand-to-hand combat, child violence, blunt force trauma to the face and head, kill shots, deaths and inferred deaths (including animals and humans), kidnapping, imprisonment, hangings, bound characters, torture, intent to r@pe (does NOT actually occur), and use of a variety of weapons including guns, knives, explosives, spears, arrows, slingshots, and flamethrowers.

Blood and gore are extensive throughout this Mad Max prequel, including gunshot wounds (including sniper shots to the head), facial cuts, scrapes, bloody noses, blood pools and spurts, open wounds and fresh stitches. Mutilated body parts (human and animal), dead bodies, human deformities and disabilities, grotesque scarring and healed wounds are also common (a step above Fury Road) – with addition of decomposing body parts in various stages with the presence of active maggots/bugs. Possibly disturbing scenes of dogs and birds with human bodies that may be uncomfortable to watch.

And if the violence wasn’t intense enough already, let’s throw in a couple of possible jump scares and suspenseful action sequences as well.

Adult Themes. There is no alcohol consumption, drugs, or smoking in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Familiar characters from Fury Road are back – with the presence of medical equipment including blood transfusion tubing and various oxygen masks/tanks. One seizure is also shown on camera.

As stated above there are highlighted characters with various deformities and disabilities that may be scary/creepy to children who have not followed the Mad Max universe before. Pee is seen in bottles and being poured out- with verbal references to “piss.”

Does Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga have sexual innuendo? In short – oh YES! While there are no nudity or sex scenes – there are multiple scenes of a man fondling his own nipples which are visible to the audience and pierced (also a character from Fury Road). Another male character’s nipples are seen injured and visibly bleeding during another scene. There are multiple scenes of paintings that show women with exposed breasts and nipples.

There are multiple scenes of scantily clad women aka the “wives.” Discussion about the multiple “wives” also occurs. One woman is woken from sleep with intent to r@pe – but it does NOT occur. A metal chastity belt is seen being cut off a woman. A woman’s bare shoulder is exposed during sewing of stitches. Hugging and holding hands also occur between characters. There is one scene of a pregnant lady giving birth – though most is shown off-camera. The child is born with a deformity that may be difficult for kids to take in and understand. The umbilical cord is cut on camera.

Furiosa sexual innuendo verbal references include “bollocks,” “testes,” “tits,” “nuts,” and character names of “Scrotum” and “Rictus Erectus.”

Language. Does Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga have language? While not disclosed, there are some choice words parents should be aware of. Foul language / swear words include: 2 “b@stards” and 3 “H-E-double-hockey-sticks.”

Milder bad language phrases and insults in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga include: “bollocks,” “testes,” “scrotum,” “tits,” “piss,” “idiot,” “moron,” “freak,” “freakish,” and “hate.”

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Age Rating for Kids

The Overall

Your Valhalla of summer action films has arrived.

There’s a fine line between genius and absolutely demented – and this time I think Miller may have tipped the scales too far. While expanding the Mad Max dystopian apocalyptic world with a madly chaotic yet finely tuned ride, Furiosa’s desperate revenge story is a few steps past the point of crazy.

Don’t get it twisted. It’s still a Mad Max worthy ride – and a worthy summer flick for the action seeking fans. Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance was on par if not better than Charlize Theron’s characterization of Furiosa. But it’s Alyla Browne who shines in this prequel. And Chris Hemsworth delivers a convincing performance as well.

Desperate revenge doesn’t quite compare to desperate hope. Overall, the desperate yet honest relatability in Fury Road falls on deaf ears in Furiosa. This Dystopian mayhem is revved up visually with action-packed poetry – yet is lacking some of the oomph that Fury Road achieved with reviving the franchise. Sorry Miller, but I still pick Fury Road over Furiosa.

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• Website: https://www.furiosaamadmaxsaga.com/
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the all-new Furiosa 2024 Mad Max prequel sequel from Warner Bros. Pictures is revving up into theaters starting Friday May 24, 2024. Will your family be watching?

I was invited to screen the all-new Warner Bros. Pictures live action film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 2024 in exchange for this Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie reviews, television updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment, and behind-the-scenes info!