Wildwood is based on a series of books Colin Meloy and he also helps to Pen the Script along with Travis Knight, who directs and produces along with his team at Laika. His team is also responsible for other great films such as Bumblebee and Kubo and Two strings, which like this film is also Stop Motion Animation and both have animation which is breathtaking. However, I would say Wildwood tops its predecessor. If you wonder how they made the Wallace and Gromit films, you are going to be even more impressed here. If you just watch the trailer you might think it is CGI, but it’s not, it’s pretty much all hand made.
What’s the premise and who is the protagonist. We follow the teenage Prue, who as with many a youngster, does not understand why her parents treat her younger brother differently to her. However, in this case he is not even allowed outside and they are talking about home schooling him, when ready. Her parents decide that they want to visit a craft fair and so they leave her in charge, but with strict instructions to stay at home. However, she chooses to ignore het parents and takes him to the park where she meets her school friend Curtis. She should have listened. From here the brother is abducted by a murder of crows. It is then up to her and Curtis to chase after the crows and then to try and find where he has been taken.
Well at first you might think I have seen this storyline in films like Labyrinth i.e. a baby boy stolen away, which then leads to a quest to go and rescue the child. However, that is where the similarities end here. The villain (Alexandra) of the piece is given a great back story and so you know why she is doing what she is doing i.e. she just wants her son back. However, although we know her reasons, we soon find out that she will go to any extreme to get what she wants.
Now one problem with this film is its rating. It is a 12A and this is in the main due to its themes and there is some cartoon blood and a decapitation. Upon viewing, I would suggest that younger children would best miss this one for now. My youngest is 8 and I would say age wise he is on the cusp and I think as always it really depends on your child and how they are with certain themes. I do think though that a PG could have been easily earned with a couple of tweaks though e.g. the decapitation was not required 😉
However, whatever age your child is currently, I would recommend when they are ready to give this a watch. This is a film that apart from the youngsters mentioned above, I would recommend to anyone, to go and see this brilliant film.
I do not normally go and see many animation films twice in the cinema, but I might just have to go and watch this one again. Please also go and support it as we need more great films like this in our cinemas. Stay to at least the mid credits if you can, as they show a quick sample of how they made the film, which worth watching.
If Wildwood is not at least nominated for an Oscar or two, then I will eat my hat, that is if I can find it in the Wild Wood.
