Sketch

by Tyler Glover

Photo: Angel Studios

Director: Seth Worley
Starring: Bianca Belle, Tony Hale & D'Arcy Carden 
Rated: PG (scary action, some violence, thematic elements, language & rude humor)
Runtime: 1 hour & 32 minutes 

I recently canceled a couple of my streaming subscriptions to make way for paying for a new one called Angel. The studio is known for its Christian-themed films and programming that parents can feel good about their children watching. I am not one to feel like I should shield my children from the world we live in, but I wanted this option to feel like my children were learning more about what it means to be a good person for God in this world. That is why I was so excited for the new film, “Sketch.” It was the first big release from the studio since I had obtained the subscription, and my daughter was beyond excited to see it.
 
“Sketch” tells the story of 10-year-old Amber Wyatt (Bianca Belle), who is grieving the loss of her mother. Amber finds solace in drawing monsters in her notebook. One day, her notebook gets accidentally dropped into a nearby magical pond. The monsters from her notebook come to life. Her father, Taylor (Tony Hale), brother Jack (Kue Lawrence), and Taylor’s sister, Liz (D’Arcy Carden), are all along for the adventure of escaping from the monsters that are taking over the town and returning to their ordinary lives. The family all learn a major lesson in the need to deal with grief and how they can be stronger as a family by being there for each other. This is a strong and positive message that I believe all kids need.
 
The problem with this film is that it is unclear who the intended audience is. It could have been a bad marketing move, but it appeared to be a movie for kids of all ages. The truth is, though, that my seven and eight-year-old daughters were scared during the film. The film had as many jump scares as the most recent ‘Jurassic Park’ movie, and the score for the soundtrack feels like it belongs in an adult thriller. It did not feel like the film was as family-friendly as it was marketed.
 
“Sketch” is a good movie. I found it to be moderately entertaining and was invested in the story and where things were headed. It was cool to experience this world where drawings could come to life and walk amongst us. The film was even humorous at times. I just wish it had fleshed out the story more between the family so that the emotional payoff at the end would have been more effective. Films, nowadays, seem so set on getting to the excitement that they aren’t making sure they set the world up completely yet. What separates great films from good films is their ability to take their time to let the story unfold organically.  
 
“Sketch” was a good film that could have been great with more effort put into the storytelling. I think the film would have also been more effective if it had seemed to know who its audience was supposed to be. It certainly wasn’t my daughters.