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More than a dozen times over watching Wild forestthe latest film from Laika Studios, I caught myself thinking, “How did they even make this movie?” It’s been a while since I’ve been completely carried away by a film, both in terms of imagination, vision, and craft, and yet Wild forest did just that. I didn’t bury the lede here: Wild forest it is a must-see cinematic event.
Directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler (both responsible for Kubo and the two series), Wildwood follows a Portland teenage girl named Prue, who, against her parents’ wishes, takes her baby brother out for some fun on the town despite clear instructions not to. Of course, she should have listened to her parents, as magical forces from outside the Impassable Wild abduct her brother and take him into the forest, a place where no one from the outside world can enter due to an impenetrable network of vines and trees. But Prue somehow manages to break the barrier, and with the help of Curtis, her shy, dorky partner, they enter the magical realm beyond the trees.
Very similar Cube and CoralineWildwood is a stop-motion animated film. Unlike those movies, I kept forgetting during the movie that it was a stop-motion animated movie. The animation and attention to detail is so smooth and dynamic, removing that traditional throbbing associated with the medium. Characters are alive and expressive, reacting to events with subtle kicks and reactions, even tearing up (this is stop-motion, don’t forget, CG is not like Pixar), so little details like that stand out. I would recommend watching this behind the scenes to fully understand the magic.
From an art/production standpoint, I have to say that I really love the look and feel of this movie. Elements of style from the Middle Ages, the 18th or 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th century are here, creating this unique lodge of fabric and architectural design. The world is inhabited by both humans and anthropomorphic animals, especially the coyotes, who serve the Dowager Countess Alexandra, the film’s main antagonist. Voiced by Carey Mulligan, the Countess could have suddenly become a one-dimensional villain who has only done rude things, but Wild forest flesh out her backstory in excruciating detail. Wild forest succeeding not only with his art and pictures, but with a complex and linear story on top of it.
As a note: this may be an animated film, but I would advise it the face bringing young children. Wild forest it is a dark film, with thematic elements that may frighten younger children. The film opens, and immediately you are saddened. There are also scary images, and it does not reject violence. There is a bit of humor to lift the mood, but it never detracts from the drama in any way, thankfully. But I wouldn’t call this a “light” movie at all.
If I criticized the film, it is that it resolves things very quickly before the end. I would love to hear a little more about what happened and why. The film chooses to just cover itself, but considering everything we went through, I think some time for Prue and Curtis to reflect with the friends they made along the way and the weight of what happened.
As Prue and Curtis explore and learn about the world they now live in, they discover kingdoms, magical creatures, talking animals, and see great armies fighting. The scope of this film, more than once, reminded me lord of the ringsin a way Redwall and a bunch of Princess Mononoke. It’s incredibly imaginative, and I know that so much of this film was done by an interesting hand and that only adds to that anxiety.
Wild forest This is one of those movies that completely transports you. It is a film that was clearly made by a team of passionate artists who poured years of their lives into making this film. I would strongly encourage you to not only watch it, but go out and support it. In an age where so many films feel soulless and lackluster, Wild forest is anything but.
