Contributor: Paul Asay

Netflix’s ‘Train Dreams’ gives us a melancholy look at one man’s quiet, hard and strangely transcendent life. But in terms of both themes and content, this isn’t a story for kids.

When a little girl tries to grow the biggest pumpkin in a pumpkin-mad town, the result is a sweet little movie with some surprising content issues.

‘Bugonia’ carries a lot of heavy themes and heavy content, including violent forays into grotesquerie, harsh language and a disturbing willingness to turn abduction into a joke.

You’ll likely be hearing about ‘One Battle After Another’ come Oscar season. But while its craftsmanship is beyond question, its content is another matter.

Though perhaps too intense for the youngest of viewers, Angel Studios’ Wingfeather Saga offers a strong story beautifully told.

‘Sentimental Value’ may be mostly in Norwegian, but it still speaks powerfully about some difficult issues. Alas, what it says isn’t always that positive.

‘The Mighty Nein’ feels darker and a bit more lugubrious than its forebear, ‘The Legend of Vox Machina.’ And it comes with mighty problems.

Check out our lovely list of eight great movies for families to watch that feature some nice messages about adoption!

Some R-rated language mars Netflix’s ‘Jay Kelly,’ but the movie itself comes with some powerful messages about what we love and should love.

‘Pluribus’ takes us into a genteel planetary takeover. But despite likable conquerors, the violence, sex and swearing make this an unpleasant invasion.

Blasphemous? Oh, yes. ‘The Carpenter’s Son’ surpasses that definition and chooses to go further beyond it.

‘The Running Man’ comes with lots of action and some satirical jabs. But it’s loaded with plenty of bloody sucker punches, too.

John O’Leary makes some poor choices in ‘Soul on Fire.’ But it reminds us that we can learn and grow from our own mistakes, too.

‘Predator: Badlands’ is the most navigable film in the Predator franchise. But given the franchise’s problematic history, that’s not saying much.

‘Sarah’s Oil’ is a nice, very watchable movie with some lovely messages. But it comes with more impurities than you’d expect from a faith-friendly film.