“I don’t want any part of your fairytale. I just want my brother.” In an enchanting world of wonder and danger, Wildwood’s beating spirit lies in a rebellious girl’s determination and refusal to abandon someone she loves. From the stop-motion studios of LAIKA, this generational epic is built on resilience, as outsiders unite in a landscape of beauty and brutality.
Adapted from Colin Meloy’s novel, Wildwood is directed by Travis Knight and stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, and Mahershala Ali. Prue (Lee) sets out to rescue her younger brother. At home, she tends to her already-dead houseplant whilst longing to venture beyond her bedroom walls. We are taken on a thrill ride and introduced to the unfamiliar, unexplored, gloomy, impassable wilderness beyond her village. Along the way, Prue explores what this world really holds with the likes of talking animals and powerful mythic figures.
LAIKA’s handcrafted world-building, from costumes and characters to sets, is remarkable for its intricate details. The characters feel as though they have lived beyond the screen. Prue’s wrinkled forehead and eye bags carry the weight of her ordinary life and responsibilities as she is compelled to escape it; it’s in her nature (no pun intended). Her friend Curtis (Tremblay) follows the dorky stereotype with his freckles, glasses and gapped teeth. The considered use of colour and lighting in the sets creates a stark contrast between Oregon’s lush town and the gloomy, forbidden forest, complemented by the eerie score. It took 16 strenuous years to bring the film to life through the medium of stop-motion. The talent of the animation team shines through in the fluidity of the movements. In a world of AI, Wildwood is a testament to the celebration of art, which is reflected in the themes of determination and love within the film.
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It’s not just the characters looking real that impacts you; it’s their struggles, connections and grief. As Prue and Curtis spiral into the unknown, they are referred to as “outsiders”; they’re strange and different. “There are many creatures who mean you harm.” It resonates with those who have ever felt misunderstood or excluded, including neurodivergent audiences, much like the character in Elio (2025). It brings light to the unnerving fact that not everyone is going to accept you with open arms. However, even those belonging to the forest are treated as ‘outsiders’, such as the ostracised rat, Septima (Awkwafina), who evokes empathy as they form a bond of mutual understanding with Curtis. Although small in size, the final scene between these characters choked me up the most. Septima is a symbol of selflessness and fearlessness and a reminder that courage prevails in the smallest of packages, even in those who are overlooked.
Prue’s relentless determination to refuse confinement and protect her brother is palpable throughout, as she faces the antagonist Dowager Governess (Mulligan). Prue’s tenacity highlights the strength of a misunderstood teenage girl fighting for someone she loves.
The presence of death, war and violence in a 12A-rated film feels unusual yet crucial at the moment. You can draw real-world parallels with humorous figures such as Governor Lars (Marc Evan Jackson) and his assistant Roger (Jemaine Clement). Lars is presented as a clueless leader who exerts his control using confinement with no concern for well-being. Through Prue’s bravery and the generosity of the community, they fight, transforming the third act into a graphic depiction of battle and destruction. Prue’s resistance suggests that ordinary people standing together against those with greater power can make a difference. An animal dies earlier in Wildwood, but the moment isn’t dwelled on, which I initially questioned. However, I considered that it may reflect the way animals are hunted and forgotten about in society. The film’s willingness to allow audiences to interpret its themes is an aspect I admire in cinema, and Wildwood does just that.
The humour offers relief from the darker material, although its predictable punchlines felt slightly dated and didn’t always land with me. However, this does not distract from the spectacle of the film.
Ultimately, Wildwood is unique in its storytelling and creation, refusing to shy away from reality despite taking place in a magical world of talking animals. It draws on intimate feelings of love whilst simultaneously echoing outside concerns. Travis Knight said, “Love asks you to hold on, and life asks you to let go.” Through love and loss, it is a story that embraces the unusual and demands to be seen on the big screen.
★★★★★
In cinemas October 23rd / Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, and Mahershala Ali / Dir: Travis Knight / LAIKA / 12A
