THE BAD GUYS: HAUNTED HEIST is an animated children's special on Netflix based on the characters from the Dreamworks movie THE BAD GUYS. In this follow-up, viewers catch up with the thieving animal crew as they plot their latest robbery: an amulet from a haunted mansion. A series of Halloween Hijinks follows as the crew questions whether the amulet is haunted. THE BAD GUYS: HAUNTED HEIST offers a fun time revisiting the characters from the beloved film. However, its Halloween setting may be too much for young viewers.
While the central premise revolves around attempts to "spook" Mr. Wolf into believing he's haunted, the movie's depictions of the occult may be off-putting for parents. Though mild and often shown to be the result of technology or gimmicks, the images on screen may disturb many young viewers. Also, the show features numerous demonstrations of miscellaneous immorality, such as plotting heists and robberies, lockpicking, and thievery. MOVIEGUIDE® suggests caution for young viewers.
(B, OO, L, V, MM):
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Weak Moral Worldview that includes some biblical principles and frequent flirtations with the occult and supernatural. This installment seemingly takes place before the events of the movie, where the characters have turned a new leaf and are considered “Good Guys”. Many of those redemptive elements are missing in this special. These characters have no problem sneaking, pickpocketing, lockpicking and committing heists for their own pleasure. Mr. Wolf is led to believe that his irresponsible and selfish actions led to his friend’s demise. Mr. Wolf is repentant, offering his life up for theirs. However, this is undone when he reveals he knows it is all a prank. Many references to the supernatural, such as haunted artifacts, ghosts, vampires, “possessed” suits of armor, mummies, eyeballs floating in a drink, etc. Though these are pranks, they undoubtedly will disturb some young viewers. Additionally, there are mentions of superstition to ward off the supernatural such as a rabbit's foot, and a necklace of garlic;
Foul Language:
One “heck”, one “freaking”; and a couple fart jokes.
Violence:
One character kicks four bad guys up into the air; it’s done in a comical and cartoon way. A “possessed” suit of armor runs at the characters, trying to hit them with an axe, later a chandelier falls on it, pinning it down. Characters jump at Mr. Wolf to attack him offscreen;
Sex:
No sex;
Nudity:
No nudity;
Alcohol Use:
No alcohol;
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No drug use; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality:
The premise of the film revolves around characters (thieves) plotting to steal and artifact from a haunted house, lock picking, two instances, breaking and entering, “pranking” by making someone believe they are haunted
THE BAD GUYS HAUNTED HEIST is an animated children’s Halloween special on Netflix that follows the characters from the Dreamworks movie THE BAD GUYS. Viewers catch up with the thieving animal crew as they plot their latest robbery: to steal an amulet from a haunted mansion. Halloween Hijinks unfold as the crew questions whether they’re dealing with a haunted amulet.
The show is a fun opportunity to revisit the characters from the beloved film. The special effects and production quality are serviceable and make for entertaining viewing. However, the Halloween setting may be too much for young viewers. While the central premise of THE BAD GUYS HAUNTED HEIST revolves around attempts to “spook” Mr. Wolf into believing he’s haunted, there are still many flirtations with the occult and supernatural (including ghosts, vampires, and a “possessed” suit of armor that appears throughout the episode and attempts to maim the characters).
Though mild and often shown to be the result of technology or gimmicks, the images on screen may disturb many young viewers. Also, as this is THE BAD GUYS property, the show features robberies, lockpicking and thievery. MOVIEGUIDE® suggests caution for young viewers.
THE BAD GUYS: HAUNTED HEIST begins with the story of Reginald E Scary, an infamous robber who long ago stole a crescent amulet and vowed to curse anyone who stole it from him. It now lies in his haunted mansion. Mr. Wolf believes this to be the perfect heist to commemorate Halloween.
His crew is wary, bringing up Mr. Wolf’s incessant Halloween pranks over the years. Eventually, they decide to break in and steal the amulet. They see many unsettling sights inside Scary’s haunted mansion, such as a piano playing by itself and a suit of armor that lurches out to attack them. Later, it becomes known to be yet another prank from Mr. Wolf.
They return to their hideout with the crescent amulet, but something seems off. Mr. Wolf begins hearing the familiar tune played on the mansion’s piano, yet no one else can hear it.
Later, Mr. Scary appears in a nightmare, torments Mr. Wolf, and tells him his actions will cost him something he cares about. As he wakes, his friends inform him Mr. Piranha has been kidnapped. The friends race back to the mansion, carrying a necklace of garlic and a rabbit’s foot to ward off the supernatural. Inside, they see unexplainable floating chairs and a suit of armor ready to attack them yet again; this time, it’s not Mr. Wolf’s doing.
Mr. Shark uses the rabbit’s foot to knock down a chandelier and pin the suit of armor. But just as they think they’ve avoided all danger, the ghost of Mr. Piranha appears and chases the crew out of the house, except for Mr. Wolf, who runs to return the amulet in hopes that Scary will return Mr. Piranha. Mr. Scary appears, telling him it’s too late. For his trespass, he will also take the rest of his friends. We see the ghosts of Mr. Shark, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha. Finally, in a desperate bid to save their souls, Mr. Wolf offers himself, begging to take their place.
Suddenly, laughter comes from behind Mr. Wolf. It turns out Mr. Wolf’s friends have been pranking him, carefully crafting an illusion with technology and gimmicks to give him the appearance of being haunted by Mr. Scary. The prank attempts to get him back for his incessant pranking over the years.
They make amends, and Mr. Wolf dons the amulet again, only for him to be atomized and disintegrated into a pile of ash by the cursed object. His mortified friends soon discover the real Mr. Wolf is alive and well. He knew of their ploy and used the technology to prank them back. His friends, upset at this reversal, lunge to attack him, ending the special.
