SKETCH
Starring: Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, Kue Lawrence, and Kalon Cox
Director: Seth Worley
NICK
Director Seth Worley describes Sketch as “Inside Out meets Jurassic Park,” which is a pretty accurate description, although I may sprinkle a little Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Jumanji in there too. Either way, this is a fun children’s adventure with delightful visual effects, an entertaining cast of youngsters (they can get a tad annoying at times, but that just means it’s authentic), and some solid messaging. I could see this becoming required viewing for families looking for help during the necessary but difficult conversations with their children, and for that alone, I think the film succeeds.
AMARÚ
You have no clue what you’re in for with Sketch. On the surface, it looks like a family comedy, but it’s a horror movie through-and-through; a horror film for the whole family, and it’s freakin’ awesome. Writer/director/editor Seth Worley constructed a creatively intense and emotionally resonant thriller centered around a family drama, brilliantly portrayed by Tony Hale, Bianca Belle, and Kue Lawrence, the latter two who match Hale’s comedic timing and dramatic chops. Alongside co-stars D’Arcy Carden and Kalon Cox, Worley’s great pacing and the main trio create an honest, scary, hilarious, and impactful story about the importance of healing no matter your age.
BODE
Some say that grief is a monster. Writer-director Seth Worley’s feature debut, Sketch, explores this idea pretty much literally, as a child’s angry drawings - created in the wake of her mother’s death - are brought to monstrous life thanks to a magic pool. Though it’s a little too broad in its nature (especially in places where restraint would’ve been more beneficial), there’s enough heart and imagination to this Amblin-esque fantasy adventure that families could very well latch onto it, especially thanks to its fast pace, colourful visual effects, and charming cast of youngsters and veterans alike.
QUENTIN
I saw Sketch as a Surprise Mystery Movie, and once I saw the title screen, I expected hokey drivel like IF or Harold and the Purple Crayon. Thankfully, I couldn’t have been more wrong, as Sketch capably fits alongside the classic Amblin movies of yesteryear. Imagine Jurassic Park (there are obvious homages) but with the tween-geared “horror” sensibilities of 1989’s Little Monsters and 1995’s Jumanji. On top of that, there is an extremely resonant message about dealing with grief. As a single dude in his 40s, I’ll probably never watch this pleasant surprise again, but parents should add it to the Family Movie Night rotation immediately.
This film was reviewed by Nick as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.