Wildwood Movie Review

Stop-motion is ingenious and glorious to watch, especially when it’s made by this production company.

The first time I ever saw one of these types of films, I thought it was creative, imaginative and beautiful, I was mesmerized. And it’s still so innovative, the viewer comes away feeling as if they’d just been let in on some secret art no one knows about. Laika does it right. This was so fun to be a part of. And Wildwood is officially the longest of this film style ever made with a runtime of 140 minutes. The time was used wisely; you won’t be able to look away. The production company Laika is definitely at the top of their game here. They’re best known for stop-motion features Coraline, ParaNorman, Missing Link, and now they’ll be very well known for Wildwood. Many of their films are nominated for Academy Awards and Wildwood will be no different.

This is adapted from the first novel in a trilogy called The Wildwood Chronicles. They’re written by Colin Meloy, from the indie folk rock band called the Decemberists, if you don’t know their music, you will after the film. Luckily, you get some introductions to their work and will probably become a fan as I did. Anyway, the books are illustrated by Meloy’s wife Carson Ellis, who develops inspiration from folk art. The two work very well together because this film is an absolute must-see. I hope they keep it up. With this film, they have created remarkable characters for you to fall in love with and a storyline that’ll have you gripping your seat.

The story has a narrator that piques the interests right away when it says that “there are places in the world that people were never meant to go.” Dark forest where the trees hold dark secrets was one of those places. The first settlers called those in this story the “Impassable Wilderness” to warn people they would do well to keep out. The story is surprisingly grim and gloomy, and rated PG-13 for the darkness of it all. Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) has to go into those woods if she ever wants to see her baby brother again. She was watching him and her parents told her not to take him outside. It was, of course, the first thing she did. Now he’s gone and it’s all her fault. Luckily, she has a curious D&D friend named Curtis, played by the remarkable Jacob Tremblay, who’ll go with her to help find him.

It’s a journey you’re happy to go along with them on because the animation is simply mind-blowing. The birds alone are terrifyingly pretty. Some are good and some are bad, either way, you can’t help but be mystified by their use in the story in the Avian principality. A rat named Septima (Awkwafina) is an extremely friendly little critter but isn’t always listened to. There are many characters, and storylines about loss, war and grief, that’ you won’t, for one second tire of the ride you’re on. Moments with lines such as, “You’re so intent on seeing no magic in the world that you miss it” is just one of many that’ll astonish, and they keep coming. The beauty is everywhere you look. It’s an astounding film… out today. Don’t miss it.