Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be honest: this documentary has all the ingredients for something meaningful—a brother's quest for closure, the drama of Everest, unresolved family grief—but it just doesn't land. The ratings tell the story: 2.6/5 on Letterboxd is brutal, and even casual viewers gave it a meh 5.9 on IMDb.

The core problem, according to reviewers, is that Spencer and his family come across as emotionally flat, turning what should be a moving journey into something that feels more like a vanity project. The mountaineering community wasn't impressed either, calling out the family for not accepting that high-altitude climbing is inherently dangerous and bodies often can't be recovered.

If you're fascinated by Everest or have older teens interested in extreme sports, there might be some value here for discussing risk, grief, and closure. But there are far better mountaineering documentaries (Free Solo, The Alpinist, Touching the Void) that are both more gripping and more insightful. This one's a skip unless you're really committed to the topic.

Age Fit

This is rated 13+ by Common Sense Media, and that feels right—it's heavy subject matter that requires emotional maturity. But honestly, even for teens, this isn't particularly worthwhile viewing. It's more for adults with a specific interest in mountaineering or grief documentaries.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

45

This is a grief-driven documentary about a family's attempt to recover a body from Everest 23 years after death. While the intent is sincere, reviewers note the family comes across as emotionally detached and lacking genuine emotion, which creates an uncomfortable viewing experience. The subject matter—death, unresolved trauma, dangerous mountaineering—isn't inherently unwholesome, but the execution feels exploitative rather than healing.

Imaginative

35

As a straight documentary following a specific recovery mission, there's minimal creative vision or storytelling craft. The Everest setting provides some visual interest, but with a 2.6/5 Letterboxd rating and lukewarm critical reception (67% RT critics, 63% audience), it's clear the film doesn't inspire or spark curiosity the way great documentaries do. It's more procedural than imaginative.

Safe

55

Common Sense Media rates this 13+, and New Zealand gave it PG with 'content that may disturb.' The documentary deals with death, grief, and the inherent dangers of Everest (including discussion of bodies left on the mountain). No graphic violence, nudity, or profanity appears to be present based on IMDb parent guides, but the emotional weight and morbid subject matter make this unsuitable for younger viewers. For teens 13+, it's reasonably safe but emotionally heavy.

Enriching

40

There's potential here for discussions about grief, closure, extreme sports risk, and family dynamics—but the film doesn't seem to deliver meaningful insight. The Reddit mountaineering community criticized it as 'shameful behavior from a family that could not deal with the fact that high altitude will forever remain dangerous.' With a 5.9 IMDb rating and poor audience reception, it doesn't appear to offer the depth or perspective that would make it genuinely enriching. It's more voyeuristic than educational.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Offers a window into the extreme risks and realities of high-altitude mountaineering
Could spark discussions about grief, closure, and how different families process loss
The Everest setting provides dramatic visuals and context for understanding why bodies remain on the mountain

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What to Watch For

The subject matter is morbid—death, bodies on Everest, unresolved family trauma—and may be disturbing for sensitive viewers
Reviewers consistently note the family comes across as emotionally detached, making this uncomfortable rather than moving
The mountaineering community criticized this as tone-deaf about the realities of high-altitude risk
With a 2.6/5 Letterboxd rating and 5.9 IMDb, this is genuinely hard to watch and not particularly well-made

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think some families need to recover a body for closure while others don't?"
"What do you think about the ethics of climbing Everest when so many people have died there?"
"How would you want your family to remember you if something tragic happened?"

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