Darby and the Dead – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Darby and the Dead

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2022

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A teen who sees ghosts helps the popular girl's spirit—it's basically Ghost Whisperer meets Mean Girls, but make it 2022 and kind of meh.

56%

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Darby and the Dead

movie

PG-13, 2022

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A teen who sees ghosts helps the popular girl's spirit—it's basically Ghost Whisperer meets Mean Girls, but make it 2022 and kind of meh.

56%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a perfectly serviceable teen supernatural comedy that won't offend anyone or blow anyone's mind. It's got a decent premise—teen sees ghosts, helps popular dead girl, learns to rejoin the living—but the execution is pretty paint-by-numbers.

The 5.7 IMDb and mixed critical reception tell the story: it's fine. Your 13-year-old might enjoy it on a Friday night, especially if they're into the whole ghost-helper genre or need something that deals with grief without being a total tearjerker. The themes of connection and empathy are there, just don't expect Pixar-level emotional depth.

The real question is whether your teen will actually want to watch this. It came and went pretty quietly in 2022, and there's a reason you probably haven't heard much about it. It's not bad enough to avoid, but it's not good enough to seek out unless your kid is specifically into this type of thing. Watchable? Yes. Memorable? Probably not.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13-16 who enjoy light supernatural comedies and can handle themes of death presented in a non-scary way. Older teens will likely find it too predictable and formulaic, while younger kids might not connect with the high school social dynamics.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Teen comedy with a ghost-helping premise that models empathy and personal growth. The story centers on learning to connect with others and overcoming social isolation. However, the high school social hierarchy and 'popular girl' dynamics may reinforce some stereotypes. The emotional tone is generally light and appropriate for teens, with themes of grief processed through a supernatural lens.

Imaginative

The 'seeing ghosts after near-death experience' concept has been done many times (think The Sixth Sense meets Mean Girls), so it's not breaking new ground. The ghost-counseling side business adds a quirky twist, but the execution appears fairly conventional based on mixed critical reception. Letterboxd's 2.7/5 and RT's 56% critic score suggest the imaginative elements don't quite land with freshness or originality.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for 13+, suggesting age-appropriate content for teens. The supernatural premise involves death as a concept but appears handled in a light, comedic way rather than scary or traumatic. No indications of graphic content, though typical teen movie elements (social drama, possible mild language) are likely present. The near-death experience backstory could be sensitive for some families but doesn't appear to be depicted graphically.

Enriching

The film explores themes of grief, social connection, empathy, and finding your place—all valuable for teen viewers. Learning to help ghosts 'move on' while learning to engage with the living world is a decent metaphor for processing loss and isolation. However, the 5.7 IMDb and mixed reviews suggest the execution is formulaic and the lessons may be surface-level. Entertainment value appears moderate at best—it's watchable but not particularly memorable or impactful.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Explores grief and loss through a supernatural lens that makes heavy topics more accessible for teens
The premise of helping ghosts 'move on' while learning to engage with living peers is a solid metaphor for processing isolation
Light, comedic tone keeps things from getting too dark or intense—it's a gateway supernatural movie for younger teens
Audience score (73% RT) suggests it connects better with its target demographic than critics give it credit for

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What to Watch For

The near-death experience backstory might be sensitive for kids who've experienced loss or medical trauma
High school social hierarchy and 'popular vs. outcast' dynamics are front and center—could reinforce stereotypes
It's pretty formulaic—if your teen has seen any ghost-helping or high school makeover movie, this will feel familiar
Mixed reviews suggest it's watchable but forgettable; don't expect deep character development or lasting impact

Conversation Starters

"If you could help someone who passed away with unfinished business, who would it be and what would you help them with?"
"Do you think Darby was actually avoiding life by only hanging out with ghosts, or was she just doing what felt comfortable?"
"The movie's about fitting in with the 'living world'—do you ever feel like you're going through the motions at school without really connecting?"

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