‘Wildwood’ Review: A Testament To Human Creativity

There is so much excitement to see filmmakers really pushing stop-motion animation in Wildwood. The film, written by Chris Butler and directed by Travis Knight, is based on a book by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. It tells the story of how a pair of teenagers in Portland set off on an adventure into an enchanted forest full of talking animals after Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) disobeys her parents and takes her baby brother Mac outside. Whilst out playing, a murder of crows swoop down and take Mac. Prue goes with her classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay) to chase Mac into the Impassable Wilderness. This is a forest that is not meant to be entered by normal people who live in Wildwood. The forest contains a complex society split between rival politics. A civil war has started between a group of bandits led by Brendan (Mahershala Ali) and the forces of Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), a former ruler of South Wood. Prue and Curtis soon learn that finding Mac will be more difficult than they thought, as they have accidentally got caught up in a long running conflict.

Wildwood feels like it is a place that has been around for ages thanks to the superb animation. The forest contains many weird creatures, unique buildings, lots of lush plants and intricate details which add to every corner. The scale of the film is fantastic. From close up scenes to wide shots of the wilderness, it is beautiful to watch. The bigger scenes such as battles between opposing sides and large scenes with huge birds are amazing to watch. There is a tangible element to everything in this film. Every location and character design makes you feel like you are really in this world. The puppetry adds to the uniqueness of every creature, even the weirdest ones. The level of patience and detail needed to create such an intricate film cannot be ignored.

The film does not really feel like it wants to make Wildwood a safe place. Whilst there are many funny moments, with the quirky characters adding to the comedy, there are some dark moments. There are scenes with bloodshed, death, suicide and destruction. The animation helps to make these scenes feel more real. Some scenes really are quite disturbing. When the film starts to reveal what Alexandra has done to try and bring her dead son back, it really adds to the dark tone of the film. The contrast between the hand-drawn beauty and the ugly moments really gives the film its own identity. You never get the impression that the characters are safe just because they are in an animated fairytale.

Alexandra (Carey Mulligan) is the most interesting character. She used to be a kind ruler, however she became consumed with grief after the death of her son Alexei. She used black magic to give him a brand new mechanical body, but this backfires as he finds out the truth and commits suicide. She was exiled after this and now holds on to the hope that she can fix what she has lost. However, her desire to get Alexei’s body back puts the whole forest in danger. Although her actions are horrific, you can understand why. Carey Mulligan gives her a strong presence which makes her scary, but you can also see the grieving mother inside her. Alexandra’s tragic story really adds to the conflict, although the plot can sometimes feel too focussed on getting the characters into situations.

Prue’s journey is driven by her sadness. Her initial motivation to find her brother is purely out of desperation, however the longer she spends in Wildwood, the more she learns about the complex decisions adults must make. When she finds out her parents had a deal with Alexandra to have children, it changes her view on why Mac was taken. She must come to terms with loving her family but knowing they have lied to her. Her experiences help her become more independent, however the film makes sure you know growing up can be disappointing and sad.

Curtis is a nice contrast to Prue’s story. Jacob Tremblay plays him brilliantly, giving him a lovable clumsy determination. He feels like a true teenager who can sometimes be clueless but will never give up on his friend. The friendship between Curtis and Prue is easy to get behind. The supporting cast also add a lot of personality. Angela Bassett gives the General, a huge golden eagle who helps guide Prue through the forest, a strong presence. Tom Waits brings a gritty feel to Maksim, Alexandra’s coyote commander. Septima, played by Awkwafina, also becomes an important character to Curtis. Her fate adds a sad element to the outcome of the battle. Overall the voices are excellent and make the huge cast of humans and animals feel unique.

The story does start to fall apart slightly. There is a lot to take in with the backstory, politics, magic and mythology. The civil war between South Wood and the bandits adds a bigger political element, however some of the power struggles feel like they have been done before. Some characters feel like they are fulfilling stereotypical fantasy roles. There is a lot to take in as Prue moves between groups, and sometimes it feels like the film is rushing to get her to the next part of her quest. The mystery around Alexandra is an emotional element, however the story can feel busy with so many different factions.

The story is quite predictable. It follows a typical rescue adventure story. Certain moments can be easily guessed. Whilst this does not take away from the film too much, especially as the emotions are clear and there is always something to look at, some of the final moments do not have as much impact. The climax is a huge spectacle as the film has been building up to it. Prue’s connection to the forest is key to stopping Alexandra, but the quick pace of the final battle means some characters and outcomes do not get explored.

Overall Wildwood is a brilliant example of stop-motion animation and the amazing people who still make it possible. The attention to detail and dedication to the craft should be praised. From the intricate details in the forest to the ambitious scale of some scenes. It is a beautiful piece of stop-motion film that reminds you how much personality, effort and creativity can go into animation.