The stop‑motion animated film Wildwood arrives with a staggering amount of craftsmanship. Over two hours, the production employed 230 hand‑controlled puppets across 132 sets, printing more than 142,000 3D faces and crafting thousands of feathers. The effort is evident in the detailed visuals, from glowing ferns to towering waterfalls.
Local flavor in a fantastical setting
Set in Portland, Oregon, the story nods to local landmarks such as Powell’s City of Books and Voodoo Doughnut, giving the film a distinct regional flavor. The protagonist, teenager Prue McKeel, lives with her overprotective father—who humorously resembles a tattoo‑free Post Malone—and her baby brother, Mac.
When Mac is snatched by crows and taken to the mysterious Impassable Wilderness, Prue teams up with an awkward gamer named Curtis to rescue him. Their journey leads them through a magical forest populated by talking animals, bureaucratic officials, and a stern Dowager Governess.
Violence and thematic ambition
While the visual spectacle shines, the film leans heavily into graphic violence, including beheadings, hand‑to‑hand combat, and scenes of animals in chains. These elements, paired with themes of grief, growing up, environmental stewardship, and resistance to oppression, feel unevenly handled. The narrative’s message—”don’t be in a hurry to grow up”—gets lost amid the chaotic action.
Voice talent includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue, Awkwafina as a rat, Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, and Richard E. Grant as an owl, with Tom Waits providing a cameo as a coyote. Despite strong performances from some cast members, many voices blend into the background.
Production notes and rating
Directed by Travis Knight with a screenplay by Chris Butler, the film also features a new song by The Decemberists, “The Better Part of Bravery.” It earned a PG‑13 rating for strong fantasy violence, thematic material, suicide‑related content, brief partial nudity, and language. The runtime is 132 minutes, and the reviewer awarded it two and a half stars out of four.
Overall, Wildwood stands as a labor‑of‑love achievement in stop‑motion animation, but its storytelling does not quite match the technical brilliance.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
