TL;DR – A stunning work of art that moved my soul.
Post-Credit Scene – There is a mid-credit scene.
Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.
Warning – Contains scenes which may cause distress.
Wildwood Review Introduction
Today I get to talk about one of the most interesting films I have seen in an age. A film brimming with artistic talent, emotion, and an impact that with me long after the credits rolled. It is a movie that reminds me why film exists: to delight, to confront, to uplift, and to bring the tears.
So, to set the scene, Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is at that teenage age where she is trying to isolate herself from those things that seem childish because now, she is an adult, apparently. While also simultaneously rebelling against her parents’ wisdom, a juxtaposition that is only found in teenagers. Her parents (Jake Johnson & Maya Erskine) get Prue to watch her baby brother Mac (Arthur Knight), but he can not go outside. Fast-forward to Prue taking Mac on a tour around Portland, Oregon. It is a delightful day, bar the unfortunate appearance of Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), oh and a murder of crows stealing Mac from the playground and taking him into the Impassable Wilderness, the one place her parents told her not to go.
A Work of Art
To say this is a work of art would be an understatement. There are moments in this film when I was filled with awe at the beauty I was watching. The technical craft on display here is almost unmatched in the industry. The movement is flawless, the characters come to life, and it sucks you into this world with a sheer ease that is a wonder to see. There is beauty, detail, and mystery in every frame of Wildwood. This is combined with one of the best musical scores of the year, which brings an emotional swell that can’t be beat. Where you see all of this come together is a flying sequence that enveloped me in clouds and soared through my soul. I cannot truly articulate just how captivated I was watching this as I was taken into this world.
A Cavalcade of Characters
Wildwood is full of a delightful mix of characters all going on a journey. Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay are our two leads and must do a lot of the emotional heavy lifting throughout the movie. Prue is discovering what it means to be an adult, what it means to stand up for herself, and what it means to navigate a world filled with obstacles. Curtis gets a whirlwind exploration of what the realities of his games truly are. More than anyone in the film, he has to grow up fast, but also not lose his wonder of the world. Even our main antagonist, Dowager Governess Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), is motivated by an emotion, sheer grief, that you can completely understand, and almost sympathise with.
Worldbuilding a Magical World
Wildwood is a film that revels in the building of its world. We see that right from the start when they bring Portland to life in all its quirky energy. They ground you in the real, so you know to trust them when they ground you in the absurd. Every new person and location they visit is a new world to discover. It brings you into this world because they take the time to make all the details work. hose details accumulate in your mind and make the world impossible to forget. I liked that you could see the references they were speaking to: The Cat Returns, Narnia, The Boy and the Heron, and Stardust, to name a few. Because of this worldbuilding, you care about the people, you care about the world, and that makes the emotion hit harder.
A Symphony of Emotion
The final strength of the film is how they craft and manage the emotions you feel. You will go through a carousel of emotions because the film does not hold back. It was honestly surprising just how raw they get throughout the film, especially during the military scenes. There were moments during this film where I audibly gasped, and those emotions only happen when you have committed to the story and the characters. Those emotions at times can be confronting, and I am glad they didn’t try to soften some of the blows. What we get in the end is a chorus with many different voices, singing many different things, but they all work together in the tapestry of emotions.
Recommendation
In the end, do we recommend Wildwood? Yes, we do. I highly recommend watching this on the big screen and getting lost in the world. I would say it might be a touch too much for some of the younger audience, and there is a warning in place for a reason. However, Wildwood uplifted me, and reminded me of the power that cinema still has to move us.
Have you watched Wildwood? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked Wildwood, we would recommend Luca to you because it is also exploring all those emotions of wandering into a world where you need to work out how to thrive when everything is against you.
By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.
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Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Wildwood
Directed by – Travis Knight
Screenplay by – Chris Butler
Based on – Wildwood by Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis
Music by – Dario Marianelli
Cinematography by – Caleb Deschanel
Edited by – Christopher Murrie
Production/Distribution Companies – Laika, Fathom Entertainment, & Kismet Movies
Starring – Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Arthur Knight, Angela Bassett, Richard E. Grant, Blythe Danner, Jake Johnson, Maya Erskine, Rob Delaney, Tantoo Cardinal, Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Len Cariou, & Colleen O’Shaughnessey
Rating – Australia: M; Canada: PG; New Zealand: M; United Kingdom: 12A; United States: PG-13
