Revolting Rhymes – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Revolting Rhymes

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Roald Dahl's deliciously dark fairy tale remixes—where Red Riding Hood packs heat and Snow White runs a gambling ring.

86%

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Revolting Rhymes

movie

6, 2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Roald Dahl's deliciously dark fairy tale remixes—where Red Riding Hood packs heat and Snow White runs a gambling ring.

86%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Roald Dahl doing what he does best: taking beloved stories and gleefully corrupting them with wit, darkness, and unexpected violence. If your kid loved Matilda and The Witches, this is a natural next step. If they're still happily watching Disney princess movies without irony, hold off.

The animation is gorgeous, the writing is clever, and the interconnected narrative structure is genuinely sophisticated. But let's be clear: wolves get shot in the face, characters meet grim ends, and the whole enterprise is designed to make kids question whether Cinderella was really all that great to begin with.

Common Sense Media's 11+ rating feels right. This isn't family movie night for the 6-year-old crowd. But for tweens ready to think critically about stories and who can handle Dahl's trademark macabre humor? It's a smart, entertaining 60 minutes that actually respects their intelligence.

Just don't expect warm fuzzies. Expect wolves in grandma's clothing and kids who fight back.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-14 who are ready for Dahl's darker sensibility and can appreciate subversive humor. Too scary and cynical for younger fairy-tale lovers; older teens might find it charming but a bit juvenile unless they're Dahl completists or animation fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Roald Dahl's signature dark humor twists classic fairy tales with subversive, sometimes violent outcomes (characters die, wolves get shot, etc.). While clever, the tone is cynical rather than warm, and the 'revolting' premise deliberately undermines traditional wholesome messaging. Models wit over kindness, though not mean-spirited.

Imaginative

Brilliantly reimagines classic fairy tales with interconnected narratives and surprising plot twists. Quentin Blake's distinctive animation style brings Dahl's irreverent creativity to life. Invites kids to think critically about familiar stories and question conventional narratives—highly original approach to well-worn material.

Safe

Contains cartoon violence (wolves shot, characters eaten, dark outcomes), scary moments, and Dahl's trademark macabre humor that could surprise younger viewers expecting traditional fairy tales. Common Sense Media rates it 11+, suggesting content that goes beyond typical family fare. No gore or inappropriate content, but the dark twists and deaths are unexpected if you're not familiar with Dahl's style.

Enriching

Encourages critical thinking about story tropes and challenges passive acceptance of traditional narratives. Strong literacy connection to beloved Dahl work. The clever wordplay and rhyming structure support language development, and the subversive themes invite discussion about morality, justice, and storytelling conventions. Entertaining for the right audience.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Brilliant subversion of fairy tale tropes that teaches kids to think critically about familiar stories and question conventional narratives
Gorgeous animation faithful to Quentin Blake's iconic illustrations, with clever interconnected storytelling across multiple tales
Perfect introduction to Roald Dahl's signature dark humor for kids ready to graduate from his gentler works
Strong vocabulary and rhyming structure that makes it genuinely literary while still being wildly entertaining
High-quality production that respects kids' intelligence—no dumbing down, no pandering

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What to Watch For

Cartoon violence including characters being shot, eaten, and meeting dark fates—this isn't your grandmother's Cinderella
Cynical, subversive tone that deliberately undermines wholesome fairy tale morals (the 'good guys' aren't always good)
Scary moments and suspense that could frighten sensitive younger kids, especially those expecting traditional happy endings
Rated for 11+ by Common Sense Media for good reason—this is Dahl at his most delightfully twisted

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Roald Dahl changed the endings of these famous stories? Which version do you like better?"
"Red Riding Hood decides to take matters into her own hands—what do you think about her choices?"
"How are these fairy tale characters different from the ones you know? Are they better or worse people?"
"If you could rewrite a fairy tale with a totally different ending, which one would you pick and how would it go?"

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