Cut to the chase: Incredible visuals and an action-packed story set “The Secret Kingdom” apart from similar imagination-centric dramas made for children. Though it undeniably takes inspiration from other well-worn young adult fantasy epics, there is enough originality to keep adolescent viewers invested and engaged.
The Secret Kingdom within
The set-up is nearly as old as time: two ordinary children get swept into a new world where mystical, talking creatures and nefarious powers await. The children are the saviors of these worlds and of their new subjects who greet them as kings and queens. “Harry Potter” has many of these elements (he may not have been royalty, but Harry did carry the untouchable title of “Chosen One”), but the property that comes to mind first is C.S. Lewis’ saga of four siblings who walk through a wardrobe into the magical, complicated world of Narnia. There are lessons imparted, morals questioned and failings encountered among the foursome who are often tempted by evil incarnate or pushed through hoops to reach their happy ending.
Lewis’ grand epic series, which spanned decades in the books, used metaphors and thematic elements to convey adult concepts to young readers. In that same vein, “The Secret Kingdom” has a surprisingly deep allegorical undercurrent that drives forth the film’s plot, action and overarching message. The film, which often echoes popular thematic and character tropes from various fantasy young adult franchises, benefits from a twist ending that ties the film together, making an important, poignant statement about love, loss and family ties.
Adventure, intrigue and puzzles, oh my!
Returning to their family’s abandoned country house, siblings 12-year-old Peter (Sam Everingham) and 9-year-old Verity (Alyla Browne) discover an enchanted world beneath the home’s floorboards. After unintentionally taking possession of a mysterious, magical set of blocks, the earth beneath their bedroom opens and transports them, bed and all, to it cavernous domain. The only way the brother-sister duo will be able to return to the human world is by fulfilling a foreboding prophecy that has long-anticipated their arrival.
Peter, an anxious child who is still working through some undisclosed trauma from his past, is the new king of this underground earth. In order to free his subjects from their longtime captor, known only as the Shroud, an insidious, shadowy figure who has kept them in the dark for many years, Peter must solve a series of riddles and collect pieces of a puzzle that assure liberation for his new friends.
The underworld is guarded by a platoon of pangolins, armored armadillo-like creatures who branch into two factions: those who believe Peter and those who view him as a liability, fearful of upsetting the Shroud. Pangolin Pling (Darius Williams), Mendax the Dragon, Ego, and Ergo, a two-headed turtle, prove to be the children’s loyal guides, ensuring Peter and Verity make the journey that stretches across deserts, forests and meandering caves. Peter in particular grows in strides as a leader; his lack of confidence is upended and replaced by a level-headed, self-assured command of his emotions. He must find the pieces, solve the riddles and undermine the Shroud to save the underground realm and return home to their parents.
It’s OK to not be OK
As Peter begins to take control of their fate, his confidence grows and his anxiety takes a much-needed backseat. For young viewers who struggle with a similar affliction, “The Secret Kingdom” offers a realistic, reassuring portrayal of childhood stressors and fears. Writer-director Matt Drummond balances the action sequences with the mental-emotional character-building vital for audience attachment.
Despite its heavy subject, the film has prepared viewers to handle the final twist, and the film is better for it. The riddles are smart, quick and a wonderful distraction, never keeping one scene from running too long or overworked. The animation and world-building is surprisingly spectacular from a smaller production company out of Australia. Though the film seems, at times, to bend under the weight of its convoluted premise and the blind eye it has turned at a fully-developed backstory, “The Secret Kingdom” is a solid, enjoyable, if not likely forgettable high fantasy epic that pre-teen viewers will relish and, one day in adulthood, remember fondly.
Good to know
MPAA rating: PG for action-peril and thematic elements
Recommended age: 8+
Runtime: 98 minutes
Nightmare Inducers: The visual effects are quite realistic. While most of the CGI work adds a layer of magic to the story, there are inevitably darker scenes that could frighten some. The dragon has a few fight sequences, and the final task – to bypass a squadron of giant body-less hands adorned in the chain protection of medieval knights – is certainly eerie.
Difficult Concepts or Emotions: Peter struggles with anxiety following a traumatic event in his past, and that can be hard for younger viewers to process through the film. The twist ending involves the death of a major character, an emotional revelation that hits particularly hard because of who it is. The death of a child and a beloved person in the protagonist’s life can trigger some upsetting reactions among viewers ill-prepared for such a reality.
Read more
Check out our reviewer’s impressions of Spiderman
Find more things to do on our calendar
