Disney Cruella’s Descent Into Evil

Who was Cruella de Vil before she became a horrible villain? Not much is known about this sinister character, and obviously, everyone has a backstory. We all have secrets lurking in our closets, just waiting to get out (or be told). In true Disney fashion, life would not be complete unless they gave us the reasons why someone ends up evil. Disney began the descent with Maleficent, and I suspect it will continue for some time. With these darker characters being the center of attention, parents want to know what to expect while watching Cruella. This Disney Cruella movie review is designed with Christian parents in mind! For more information on how I write my reviews, check out My Movie Review Guidelines.

I could have been perfectly content to live out my life without knowing how Cruella morphs from a rebellious youth into a wide-eyed, crazy, and almost demonic persona. This 2021 version of the beloved classic movie is rated PG-13. This is not a child’s movie!

It is almost as if Disney is signaling they are leaving the family genre and entering a darker world. However, they are caught between good and evil, trying hard to reconcile their choices between two diametrically opposed world views.

CHRISTIAN MOVIE REVIEW DISNEY CRUELLA

The Synopsis of Disney Cruella

(From DISNEY): Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”).

My Synopsis:

I strive not to give too much away in my synopsis. If you have been living under a rock and don’t know the story of 101 Dalmatians, you may not know that Cruella ends up evil. Based off the villain of Disney’s animated 101 Dalmatians from 1961, Disney’s latest movie, Cruella, gives us the backstory of how she developed into that insane puppy-killing maniac bent on seeking revenge.

Since I truly believe no one is born all evil or all good, we see Estella (Cruella’s alter-ego) as a young girl attending school with children who behave like children. Born with hair that is half-black and half-white, Estella’s two-toned hair causes bullying from her classmates. Coupled with her eccentric clothing styles, she finds herself in many schoolyard fights.

Before Estella can be kicked out of school for her constant misbehavior, her mother withdraws her from school. A move is in order, and on the late-night drive to London to begin a new life, her mother stops to ask an old friend for help. What happens next begins the spiral into a life destined to create a world-class villain.

What Parents May Want to Know – Disney Cruella Christian Movie Review

The Good:

Cruella has so many great scenes and clever twists and turns. The casting is spot on. I particularly loved the casting of Horace and Jasper. Additionally, the costuming is fantastic. 

Estella’s mother is kind and caring. 

Content That May Be Objectionable:

Violence:

Aside from Cruella acting crazy, other scenes may be disturbing for small children. Two people fall off a cliff to their death. A person is trapped inside a burning building. 

General stealing, thievery, lying, and crimes are committed regularly. A woman talks about killing a baby. There is speculation that a coat is made of dog skins. 

Dogs growl, show their snarling teeth, and charge at people. 

Cruella drives like a maniac crashing into other vehicles. There are several scenes with vehicle crashes.

Baroness Van Hellman is a nasty, mean boss who criticizes and berates everyone.

Darker Elements:

First off, the movie poster. Is that a pentagram in the A in Emma’s name? Or is it the anarchist symbol?

A name on a sign is changed from Hellman Hall to Hell Hall. The sign above the de Vil mansion in the original 101 Dalmatians also says Hell Hall.

Cruella takes the name Cruella de Vil, and the name shows on her car as DE VIL. Again, similar to the original animated version.

The song, “Sympathy for the Devil” is played.

Other Content:

The opening scene shows a woman giving birth. Nothing is actually shown except the baby’s backside.

A male fashion designer dresses in women’s clothing. This flamboyant character reminded me of David Bowie.

Plenty of alcohol is consumed, and one character gets drunk.

Cruella says she was “born bad,” which brings up the whole nature versus nurture debate.

DISNEY – WHAT WERE YOU THINKING

When I do Christian movie reviews, I sometimes look at movie elements. The timeline doesn’t match up with the original movie that is set in the late 1950s. In the animated classic released in 1961, Cruella is already an adult terrorizing the roads with her awful driving. However, in the live-action version, she is becoming Cruella in the 1970s. This timeline change is odd and noticeable.

Disney Cruella: Good Versus Evil

Disney wants us to not only sympathize with Cruella. They want us to like her. They want us to understand her. It is not her fault that she turns out the way she did. But I beg to differ.

Just as Cruella cannot be all good or all evil, she represents the choices we make to follow one path or another. Inside each one of us is lurking the dark side. Those dark thoughts and desires can easily encompass each one of us. 

What you think determines your reality. You have the power to change your life by shifting your focus from the evil that befalls all of us to the joy we have in Christ. By shifting our focus from evil to good, we begin to see more of the good in not only ourselves but those around us. Calling out the good in our children involves “catching them” in the act of doing the right thing and praising them for those things. 

Additionally, as a parent, much of our job is disciplining (the process of training that changes thoughts and actions) our children. As society turns from God, fewer people in each generation are disciplining their children, and we see a greater shift towards selfishness and lawlessness.

However, do not mistake my words for saying that the world is getting worse. I fully understand that evil has always existed.

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My Viewing Recommendations for Christian Parents.

In a very rare move, (major change) I am not giving Disney Cruella viewing recommendations for Christian parents. However, twenty years from now, I do not believe this movie will be a top pick when flipping through movie choices. I personally liked this movie more than I thought I would.

As far as appropriate viewing age, no matter what I say, there will always be people who believe their child can watch a particular movie. However, this movie has a PG-13 rating for a reason. I do believe that younger children (10 and up) can view this movie. BUT, what are the messages you want to feed your children?

Moreover, do you want your children to believe that people have to be a product of their environment? If you are viewing this movie with your children, my advice is to discuss people who have bad things happen to them and yet commit their lives to make the world a better place. Our circumstances do not have to take us down an evil path.

Final Thoughts: Disney Cruella Christian Movie Review

There are plenty of moments and themes in this film that can be used for teaching and discussion. That is what makes this a good movie. Sadly, most people will watch it only for entertainment purposes and not really get into Cruella’s social and moral issues that Disney has highlighted in this movie.

I believe that our job as Christian parents, teachers, and citizens of the world, is to make choices to better the world around us. How can we impart joy, love, and hope into the world? Cruella is self-centered, self-serving, and egotistical. She embodies everything within us that says, “Me, Me, Me,” and “I have to take care of myself.” 

This is opposed to what the Bible says in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

Furthermore, as a Christian, my role is to show the love of Jesus Christ to everyone I meet. I believe that the choices we make do affect not only us but future generations. Our children’s children depend on us to lead a holy life. 

Deuteronomy 30:19

“Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live!”

Where to Watch Disney Cruella

We watched Cruella in a movie theater. However, it is also available to stream on Disney+ for a fee of $29.99. Obviously, the advantage to paying the $29.99 fee is that you can now watch this movie anytime you wish; however, we are choosing to support our local movie theaters at this time!

When will Cruella be free on Disney+?

You can watch Cruella on Disney+ for free starting on August 27, 2021. This means it will be streaming at no additional cost with your Disney+ subscription.

For More Christian Movie Reviews, please see my comprehensive list of reviews.