Wildwood is a stop-motion masterpiece. Laika’s absolutely brilliant dark fantasy flirts with being their best film. That’s high praise for a storied animation studio that’s delivered such classics as Coraline and ParaNorman. Wildwood immerses the viewer in a thrilling and incredibly imaginative adventure with deadly stakes. Its rich characters deeply explored as tragic and heroic themes are cultivated to surprising conclusions. Love, loss, heartbreak, betrayal, and courage fuel a mesmerizing cinematic experience that’s likely too intense for young viewers.
Wildwood opens with a shocking reveal that sets the stage for sinister events to come. This staggering incident alerts the audience of the film’s serious subject matter. This isn’t a happy-go-lucky tale of talking critters being cute and cuddly. Life and death are in play as the veil slowly lifts on secret agendas in a magical forest. We’re then transported to a warmer setting as the McKeel family settle in for breakfast at their welcoming Oregon home.
Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), our sharp and rebellious teenage protagonist, plays with her baby brother at the kitchen table. The adorable Mac (Arthur Knight) gurgles with delight as his parents attempt to feed him. Mr. McKeel (Jake Johnson), an avowed hippie in his knit cap, and Mrs. McKeel (Maya Erskine), resplendent in cool arm tattoos, plans to make a day of their craft fair outing. It’ll be Prue’s first time babysitting Mac. Her parents have one rule: stay at home. It’s dangerous outside, especially the impenetrable woods adjacent to their suburb.
Prue, of course, ignores her parent’s as soon as they leave. She straps Mac into his wagon and takes off on her bicycle to a favorite coffee shop. There they literally knock over the nerdy and bespectacled Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue’s classmate who obviously has a crush on her. Curtis tags along uninvited as Prue takes Mac to a nearby playground. Her efforts to avoid Curtis’ conversation leaves them both unaware of crows gathering.
They both scream in horror as the crows snatch Mac and fly off towards the woods. Prue chases the murder of crows with a hapless Curtis in tow on the wagon. They arrive at the forest edge as the crows and Mac disappear into its foreboding vines. There doesn’t seem to be any way to get inside, but Prue refuses to leave. She will find Mac at all costs. As a trickle of blood drips from her cut finger onto the vines, a pathway inside mysteriously opens.
Wildwood pulls no punches depicting realistic violence. Director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Masters of the Universe) and screenwriter Chris Butler (Missing Link) want consequences to be felt. Pain and mortality are seen on both an intimate and epic scale. Characters you grow to adore and cherish can meet grisly and horrific fates. Those that survive shoulder the burden of guilt, devastation, and anger. How we cope with trauma is a primary driver of the plot. There’s a clear message sent by the filmmakers about the nature of humanity and how the inability to process grief consumes to the point of horrific outcomes.
Knight, Butler, and their amazing team of animators teach a mature lesson with a deft touch. They’re never heavy-handed or preachy in developing an intricate narrative. Each supporting character in the large ensemble has their part in helping or hindering Prue. They have reasons for their actions that aren't clearly delineated into good and evil categories. There are astounding degrees of complexity and nuance here. What would you do to save and protect those you love? We understand why a diabolical antagonist (Carey Mulligan) would go to such extreme lengths to accomplish her goal.
Jaws will scrape the floor at the level of detail in mind-blowing action scenes. You see the film from Prue and Curtis’ perspective. From soaring through the sky on the back of a giant eagle, to being chased by fierce wolves through labyrinthine tunnels, and engaging in a massive battle between bloodthristy armies, every stunning frame is a wonder to behold. Wildwood’s visual effects push stop-motion animation to stellar new heights. Raise your expectations because everything on screen is simply breathtaking.
The journey taken has meaning because we feel empathy for Prue and Curtis’ plight. Both characters undergo tremendous transformations and achieve significant growth. Prue’s facial expressions become haggard and drawn as she struggles to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She constantly questions herself, but can’t give up on finding her brother. He’s all that matters. Curtis, so sweet, innocent, and sincere, rises to the occasion in ways that will have audiences weeping and cheering. Prue is never alone in this fight. Curtis is there for her every step of the way and a reminder of friendship’s crucial value in our darkest moments.
Wildwood’s singular drawback is that it may be too hardcore for its intended audience. It honestly might scare the daylights out of children under seven years old. This is problematic because it’s meant for kids, not adults. Sophisticated and mature audiences are certain to fervently embrace Wildwood, but parents will have to decide if younger tykes are able to process such a graphic and emotional film.
Wildwood is a Laika production. It will be released theatrically on October 23rd from Fathom Entertainment.
