Cut to the chase: Perhaps the darkest film, thematically, in LAIKA’s slate, “Wildwood” is a stunning stop-motion adventure that may not be suitable for young viewers, but refutes the idea that age is a limitation on wonder. The film’s stimulating textures, vivid set design, and intricate storytelling brazenly defy the sloppy AI rhetoric plaguing current media output. This handmade marvel is the must-see sensation of the fall and will have your teens going wild for analog artistry once more.
From the stop-motion animated film “Wildwood.” (LAIKA Studios)
Synopsis
Based on Colin Meloy’s award-winning 2011 children’s novel and produced by Portland-based LAIKA Studios, “Wildwood” follows Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a regular teen living in Portland. Her parents (Maya Erskine and Jake Johnson) lean on Prue to help with her much younger brother Mac. While babysitting-slash-roaming the city, the unimaginable happens: a murder of crows kidnap the toddler, whisking him off to the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious, magical, fog-ridden forest on the edge of Portland.
With help from school friend Curtis (Jacob Tremblay), Prue braves the unknown, diving headlong into a new ecosystem of dangerous ivy, anthropomorphic creatures, and some unsavory humans. A battalion of coyotes captures Curtis and brings him to their fearsome leader, the dowager governess Alexandra (Carey Mulligan). She’s a warlord sparring with an indigenous group, though she’s also a mother grieving the loss of her son.
Prue, meanwhile, makes it to the governor’s mansion. With the help of the avian prince Owl Rex (Richard E. Grant), Prue tracks down the dowager governess and uncovers the shocking truth of her family’s part in the events unfolding before her very eyes. Prue must choose to accept the fate predestined for her or take matters into her own hands to save her innocent baby brother.
From the stop-motion animated film “Wildwood.” (LAIKA Studios)
Throwback fable…
The dichotomy of “Wildwood” is much of its allure. On the one hand, the film is an explosively original piece of art that director Travis Knight and his team of over 1000 artists spent five years producing. Every scene, every step, every hair is painstakingly brought to life through stop-motion animation. Previous LAIKA creations like “Coraline” and “Missing Link” showcase the medium’s beauty, but “Wildwood’s” ambition is akin to insanity. No words can fully describe the awe this film will evoke on the big screen.
The city of Portland, its maniacal crows, unique public water fountains, and zealous bicycle culture, looks as real and lived-in as the many hamlets of the enchanted forest. Birds fly unencumbered, despite the technical impossibility of stop-motion. With 231 hand-controlled puppets, 140,000 puppet masks and 136 meticulous sets, “Wildwood” is impossible not to enjoy in this mind-numbing age of AI. The patience and dedication to bring this movie to life make the juice well worth the squeeze. (A full day of shooting often yields just one or two seconds of film.) It should also remind us that there is still joy and purpose in doing things the “long and hard way.”
Despite looking and feeling like nothing that has come before it, the story at the center of “Wildwood” is undeniably derivative. Beyond the fairytale tropes sprinkled throughout, some influences are easy to spot. Young girl loses her baby brother to a malevolent, magical blonde? “Labyrinth.” A mystical, spiritual world hidden from humans, featuring anthropomorphic animals and a witchy, piercingly-blue-eyed antagonist? “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” A thrilling ride on an avian behemoth? “The NeverEnding Story.”
From the stop-motion animated film “Wildwood.” (LAIKA Studios)
…Or grim fairytale
But the tone and urgency of “Wildwood” felt most like Narnia’s antithesis, “The Golden Compass.” Prue’s mission, like Lyra’s, is mostly impossible, attempted by an unextraordinary tween without any understanding of the world she is entering. The real, potent threat of death also doesn’t spare the characters or the audience. If you thought the Other Mother’s long, bony fingers were nightmare-inducing, wait until you feel the constant hum of mounting danger that runs through this story.
Like Phillip Pullman’s creation, “Wildwood” doesn’t mute or censor the dark realities of its dangerous realm. The opening scene features a young child, whom we later learn is an inorganic piece of wizardry, committing suicide by jumping off a building. The dowager governess slices a throat with her long blade to end the misery of a dying soldier. Another character is shot dead via an arrow to the chest. The film features frequent imprisonment, various weapons, blood, realistic battle sequences, and a pressing sense of doom throughout most of its action.
That is all to say: viewer beware. This is an important film that should reach the right audience. Most adults will have no problem stomaching the aforementioned plot points, but children should likely be on the precipice of middle school to partake. For those raised in the twisted shadow of 80s children’s media, “Wildwood” will feel like an old friend, a bygone piece of storytelling returning with a ferocious resurrection and evocative technical prowess.
From the stop-motion animated film “Wildwood.” (LAIKA Studios)
Talk about it: points to discuss after the film
- What commendable morals and virtues does Prue represent through her actions? What are some of her more notable faults?
- The dowager governess certainly commits some horrific acts in her realm in the name of grief. Is she justified in her actions? What could have kept her from devolving into the bloodthirsty villain she became? Is she the only one at fault?
- In desperation, Prue’s parents made a deal with the dowager governess. Was it a fair deal? Should they have accepted, knowing the implications for the second child?
From the stop-motion animated film “Wildwood.” (LAIKA Studios)
Details
The MPAA Rating for “Wildwood” is PG-13 for strong fantasy violence/bloody images, thematic material, suicide-related material, brief partial nudity and language. Younger tweens may enjoy this film, but know your child.
Where to Watch: In theaters Friday, October 23. This weekend playing at:
- AMC Pacific Place 11 — Downtown Seattle
- Regal Meridian — Downtown Seattle
- Majestic Bay Theatres — Ballard
- AMC Oak Tree 6 — North Seattle
- Regal Thornton Place — Northgate
- Admiral Theater — West Seattle
Reviewer age recommendation: 11+ (middle school)
MPAA Rating : PG-13 for strong fantasy violence/bloody images, thematic material, suicide-related material, brief partial nudity and language. Younger tweens may enjoy this film, but know your child.
Runtime: 132 minutes
