By: Thomas Horvath

The newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the final chapter of the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, has come out to financial and critical success. The movie follows the Guardians on a mission to save one of their own with a time limit that could end the team as we know it. The movie is rated PG-13 and is only in theaters around the world. 

The movie is being well received after a critically positive drought that the MCU has been having since finishing their Infinity Saga. The biggest point of praise is the backstory of Rocket, the talking raccoon and mechanic of the found family. The scenes were described pre-release as the darkest, most disturbing movie the MCU has released. And after seeing the movie, these claims are not exaggerated. The content shown is hard to watch at points, and it only picks up as the movie goes on. The next paragraph of the article goes into spoilers, so be warned. 

Through Rocket’s backstory, we see him get tested on by the High Evolutionary, the villain of the movie. One of the first shots we see of baby Rocket is of him with his scalp bald and cut open, and his first word being “Hurts.” The movie shows us his found group of friends, other animals being experimented on, that include an otter, walrus, and bunny all missing limbs. Later in the movie, Rocket finds out that the High Evolutionary plans on killing his friends, so he tries to get his friends out by breaking them out of their cages. After succeeding in opening his friends’ cages, he briefly hugs Lyla, the otter, who is abruptly shot afterward by the High Evolutionary. Rocket stands over her dead body, screaming in agony, as he jumps on the High Evolutionary and begins clawing off the skin on his face. Rocket is still screaming, and so is the High Evolutionary, who is screaming in pain. Guards rush into the room and begin opening fire on Rocket, who dodges the blasts and shoots the guards, only to turn around and see his other friends were hit and are dead. This scene is possibly the darkest in the entire franchise, and the backstory scenes have stopped me from seeing the movie again.

To summarize, the movie is heartfelt, dark, and brutal, but those who are animal lovers or concerned parents, just know this movie is not like Spider-Man or the typical light-hearted movie you would find from Marvel.