Have you ever wanted your art to come to life? Ok, what if it was scary art? Like nightmare fuel? That might be a little more problematic, no? Well, what does it matter; it’s only gonna destroy one (1) small town.
Amber Wyatt (D’Arcy Carden) has taken out her frustrations in her art book. Likely bothered by the death of her mother, Amber draws the most horrific and vile of images … along with some cute ones in her Sketch book. She gets into trouble at school. Say, Dad (Tony Hale), you think you kid might need some attention? Nah. Well, how about when the Sketch book gets dropped into the magic pond and all the artwork monsters come to life?
Think your kid might need counseling then? Nah.
For a while, Sketch was imaginative and fun. Look! Your crazy drawing has come to life and is trying to kill us! Woo! In all seriousness, there is delight in watching two-dimensional drawings suddenly inhabit 3-dimensional malevolence. This is where the film works.
On the other hand, there’s a girl in desperate need of guidance. Yeah, it’s not her fault the drawings came to life to plague the town, but are the drawings themselves not representative of something more sinister? Don’t we think that there should be a professional or two present to talk to the girl about her abandonment issues?
The problem with having a slanted world view is that even when you set out to do something unbiased, the bias kinda shows through anyway. Let’s look at Sketch from the perspective of Angel Studios, a film-making propaganda club engineered and privately run by a rich, white patriarchy but in public insisting they are anything but … here they have presented a film where a little girl’s nightmares literally come to life. Obviously, there’s a big problem here; should we focus on the little girl? Well, sure BUT the moment the characters understand what’s going on, the film immediately asks (I paraphrase), “Well, how are the boys doing? Let’s make sure their feelings are recognized.” Wow, you really went there when it’s clear the girl needs attention first and foremost.
And then there’s Amber’s older brother, Jack. I think Kue Lawrence does a fantastic job presenting 
12-year-old Jack as patient, protective, and wise-beyond-his-years. But … why? Why is it important for the 12-year-old kid to be an adult? Because patriarchy, of course. It is important at all times for Angel Studios to recognize men are in charge and on top of the problems no matter who or what the film is actually about. Yeah, the girl is having her violent fantasies come to life, but don’t worry, we’ve checked on the men; they’re ok and on top of it.
This is, IMHO, the best film from Angel Studios, by far. It was more-or-less compelling without making me sick to my stomach. And still it’s impossible not to see the flaws in the Angelwork. I hate this studio; I hate what it represents, and I hate how much the opulence of individual conservatives has infringed upon media. In another era, this stuff wouldn’t matter. In the age of fascism, however? I have no doubt that Sketch is the raciest film certain groups would dare present before the public. When these groups held minimal power, it didn’t matter. When Christian Nationalists control the White House and, hence, the Constitution and public policy? It might be all that matters.
Once there was girl who drew creatures
To the dismay of all of her teachers
Don’t fret, it gets much worse
Within this tiny universe
For these creations had not yet exhausted their features
Rated PG, 93 Minutes
Director: Seth Worley
Writer: Seth Worley
Genre: Be careful what you wish for
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Angel Studios execs
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Feminists
