‘Sketch’ Review: All the Monsters One Kid Can Imagine Come to Life in an Inventive Fable for the Whole Family

As a parent who has lost a loved one and had to navigate the emotional turbulence of grief with my children, I found “Sketch” to be an incredibly poignant and relatable film. Seth Worley has crafted a unique narrative that not only entertains but also offers valuable insights into dealing with strong emotions, particularly in young children.

Ever since her mother’s passing, 10-year-old Amber Wyatt (Bianca Belle) has been tormented by unsettling thoughts. Instead of giving in to these urges, Amber records her most frightening concepts in a hidden journal, releasing her worries from her mind through creativity. This act could be healing, if not for an unexpected twist that makes Amber’s dark drawings come to life: marker-drawn hearts with insatiable hunger, a googly-eyed creature adorned with glitter and long, bendy limbs, and swarms of red, spider-like entities known as “Eyeders.

In his debut feature film, “Sketch,” advertising director Seth Worley has crafted a unique and instructive tale using captivating visual effects. This indie family adventure offers insights on handling grief and intense emotions, drawing inspiration from films like “Jumanji” and “The Babadook.” The narrative revolves around Amber, a girl whose mother has passed away, who creates doodles that eventually come to life and cause chaos in the town. Her older brother Jack (Kue Lawrence) and their father Taylor (Tony Hale), still grieving, are forced to address feelings they’ve been suppressing. If they don’t, these unresolved emotions could potentially overwhelm them completely.

Trouble arises when Amber sketches a menacing depiction of herself attacking one of her classmates, Bowman (Kalon Cox), who isn’t exactly a bully but rather quite annoying (in an endearing way, similar to Chunk from “The Goonies”). Instead of being reprimanded in the principal’s office, Amber is surprised by the counselor’s words, “You might have suppressed that anger,” and advised to jot down these thoughts in a personal notebook, keeping them away from causing harm to others.

Jack’s advice is generally sound, but there’s a peculiarity about the pond behind their house that he’s found – seems like some sort of enchantment. Throw something in and voila! It miraculously mends it. He’s been testing it with his phone and broken plates, and now plans to experiment with Mom’s ashes (which isn’t a good idea). Suddenly, Amber’s notebook slips in. To their astonishment, her sketches come to life, monstrously large, and following the intentions she had when she drew them: they can attack, consume, or merely irritate.

Practically speaking, Worley doesn’t require elaborate stages or special effects akin to Marvel productions. Instead, these rough invaders are modeled after Amber’s basic sketches, even replicating the materials they are made from. It appears that heat is an efficient means of vanquishing the waxy crayon creatures, while a strong whack disperses chalk adversaries into puffs of colorful dust. After battling Amber’s drawings for numerous hours, the whole family (including aunt Liz, portrayed by D’Arcy Carden) ends up covered in every type of art supply.

However, they haven’t yet confronted Amber’s most daunting creation – an evil version of herself depicted disemboweling Bowman in a chilling graphite drawing later colored with a menacing purple hoodie. This foe appears far more menacing compared to the others, which are mostly comical, whether it’s the chatty “Tattler” or the slightly Lovecraftian tentacle cat. A few even seem benevolent, such as the mysterious entity leaving yellow dust on the bedroom window.

As a movie reviewer, I found “Sketch” to be a captivating tale that young audiences will find engaging due to its logically structured narrative, inviting them to join the characters on their problem-solving journey. It shares a similar spirit with “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl,” in that it seems like it was born from a collaboration between a creative parent and his kids, as evidenced by the blend of Worley family sketches with Amber’s darker artistic creations.

With a strong belief that this project could resonate with many people, Worley produced a 12-minute demonstration titled “Darker Colors.” The full-length version is more heartwarming and humorous, evoking the spirit of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” as new drawings miraculously solve problems.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the director of “Sketch” doesn’t shy away from its educational aspect. Yet, in Hale, he’s discovered an actor who exudes anything but arrogance. Both the filmmaker and the lead actor show a refreshing humility as parents, weaving a tale that implies that children and adults have valuable lessons to teach each other, and that some hurdles are best overcome together as a family unit.

Each character has responded distinctly to Mom’s demise. Taylor removed all her pictures and attempted to carry on as usual, which might be more detrimental than Amber’s approach. Fortunately, Hale’s character is open about communicating with his children, offering adults a solid starting point when it comes to discussing the events that transpired, as well as some thoughtfully worded insights for themselves.

2024-09-17 03:16

‘Sketch’ Review: All the Monsters One Kid Can Imagine Come to Life in an Inventive Fable for the Whole Family

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