
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco and distributed by Netflix. The series centres on a husband and wife team of real estate agents, Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its cast, humour, and engaging premise. However, it has also been criticised for its high levels of gore, violence, and sexual references. Given these elements, is Santa Clarita Diet appropriate for kids?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror-comedy |
| Show type | Sitcom |
| Show rating | 18+ (MPAA, CSM, BBFC, Netflix); 15 (UK); TV-MA (US, Canada); MA15+ (Australia); 16 (France) |
| Appropriate for kids | No |
| Gore/Violence | Yes |
| Sexual references | Yes |
| Drug use | Yes |
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What You'll Learn

Santa Clarita Diet's violent content
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy hybrid series created by Victor Fresco and starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The series centres on a husband and wife, Joel and Sheila Hammond, who are realtors living in the suburbs of Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila suddenly dies and comes back to life with a craving for human flesh.
The show has been described as having "absurd gore with razor-sharp dialogue" and "gory, intense blood-and-guts violence". It features chewed-off digits and ripped-open chest cavities, as well as scenes of Sheila vomiting blood and eating people. There is also a scene where a character is killed with a shovel and then eaten.
The show has received mixed reviews regarding its violent content. While some viewers find the gore to be funny and well-done, others have found it to be too graphic and disturbing. Some parents have expressed concern over the show's suitability for younger viewers, with one parent deciding not to allow their 15-year-old daughter to watch it due to the sexual content, swearing, and drug use.
In Germany, advertising for the show sparked criticism, with Netflix promoting it using posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a currywurst, a popular German fast food dish. The German Advertising Council received over 50 complaints that the advertising was glorifying violence and inducing fear, especially in children.
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Sexual references and drug use
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy hybrid that revolves around a suburban family whose lives take a dark turn when the mother, Sheila, dies and comes back as a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show has been described as "gory", "bloody", and "graphic", with a fair amount of sexual references and drug use.
In terms of sexual references, the show has frequent comedic/awkward sexual innuendos and sexual terms. There are implied foreplay scenes between the primary married characters and one implied sex scene between teenagers. There are many references to sex, as becoming undead apparently awakens a wife's libido. The characters use terms like "pounding one out", "humping", "banging", and "boning". There is also a scene where a woman gets oral sex on screen (only her top half is shown), and she praises her partner, saying, "Like that. Bingo!".
In addition to the sexual references, there is also drug use in the show. The main character, Joel, smokes pot, often in his car and before important meetings. Other characters are also shown smoking pot and getting high several times. Harder drugs are mentioned a couple of times, but no one is shown using them. There is a scene where a man is found dead with a needle in his arm, implying a drug overdose. There are also mild references to alcohol and being drunk.
Given the frequent sexual references and drug use in the show, as well as the gore and violence, it is not recommended for children and is instead targeted towards mature audiences.
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Gore and horror elements
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy hybrid about a suburban family whose lives take a dark turn when the mother, Sheila, dies and comes back as a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show has been described as having "gallons of guts", "gory, intense blood-and-guts violence", and gore and horror elements.
The show features a significant amount of gore and horror elements, including:
- Zombie characters and themes of cannibalism, with characters eating human flesh and body parts.
- Violent and gory scenes, including chewed-off digits, ripped-open chest cavities, and gallons of blood and guts.
- A scene where a character is killed with a shovel and then eaten.
- A scene where a character vomits buckets of blood.
- References to sex and sexual jokes.
- Drug use, including the father smoking pot.
- Dark humour and morbid jokes.
The gore and horror elements in Santa Clarita Diet are presented in a comedic and light-hearted manner, with the show described as having an "undeniable core of sweetness". The show's humorous tone and appealing characters take the edge off the gore and violence, resulting in a unique blend of horror and comedy that some viewers find entertaining and engaging.
However, the level of gore and horror in the show might not be suitable for younger audiences. While some older teenagers and mature younger viewers may find it entertaining, parents and sensitive viewers should be aware of the show's content before watching. The show has received an 18+ rating from the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and is rated TV-MA in the United States, indicating mature content that may not be suitable for viewers under 17. In other countries, it has received similar mature ratings, such as 15 in the United Kingdom and 16 in France.
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Comedic tone and appeal
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy hybrid series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show centres on the lives of husband and wife real estate team Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
The show has been described as having a comedic tone and an undeniable core of sweetness running through it. The dialogue is fresh and smart, and the characters are appealing, which takes the edge off the gory, intense blood-and-guts violence. The show has been praised for its ability to mix brutal violence and comedy, with zombies being used as a metaphor for mindless behaviour, a creeping menace, and fascism. The overall tone of the show is light and sunny, even when violent things are happening on screen.
However, the show has received some criticism for its gore and violent content. Some viewers have described the gore as "disgusting" and "way over the top", with one viewer stating that the show is "definitely not for kids". The show has also been criticised for its sexual content, drug use, and swearing.
While the comedic tone and appeal of the show have been praised by some, it is important to note that the show is rated 18+ by the MPAA and CSM due to its violent, sexual, and bloody content. It is left to the discretion of parents and guardians to decide whether or not their children are mature enough to handle the show's content.
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Age ratings and parental guidance
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy hybrid about a successful suburban family whose lives take a dark turn when the mother, Sheila, dies and comes back as a hungry zombie. The show features a lot of gore, including scenes of characters vomiting blood, eating human flesh, and ripping open body cavities. It also includes drug use, sexual references, and consumerism.
The show has received mixed reviews from parents and critics regarding its appropriateness for children. While some parents have allowed their pre-teen children to watch the show, others have deemed it unsuitable for children under 15 or 16 due to its violent, sexual, and profane content. One parent review on Common Sense Media stated that the show is "definitely not for kids unless you are hoping to raise a desensitized ax murderer".
The show's age rating varies depending on the country and the organisation providing the rating. Here are the ratings provided by different organisations:
- MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America TV Series rating system): 18+
- CSM (Common Sense Media): 18+
- BBFC (British Board of Film Classification): 15
- Netflix: TV-MA in the United States and Canada, 16 in France, MA15+ in Australia
Given the show's dark themes, gore, violence, sexual references, and drug use, it is recommended that parents exercise caution and consider the maturity level of their children before allowing them to watch Santa Clarita Diet. Parental co-viewing is advised for older teens, and parents may want to preview the show themselves to determine its appropriateness for their family.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Santa Clarita Diet is not appropriate for kids. It is a horror-comedy hybrid with frequent gore, sexual references, and drug use.
Santa Clarita Diet is about a successful suburban family whose lives take a dark turn when the mom, Sheila, dies and comes back as a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
The show features graphic scenes of Sheila vomiting blood and eating people. There are also scenes with chewed-off body parts, ripped-open chest cavities, and buckets of blood.
Despite the gore, the show has been praised for its excellent cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. The characters are appealing, and the dialogue is fresh and smart, which takes the edge off the violent content.
The age rating for Santa Clarita Diet is 18+ in the United States and some other countries. In the United Kingdom, it is rated 15, and in France, it is rated 16.
































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