Wildwood
Currently only in theaters
Runtime: 2 Hour and 12 Minutes
Rated PG-13
"I don't want any part of your fairytale. I just want my brother."
After breaking her parents’ one babysitting rule - never take her baby brother outside while they’re gone - Prue decides a quick trip to the local playground couldn’t hurt. But when a moment of distraction turns into a nightmare, her baby brother is snatched away by a mysterious and terrifying flock of crows and is carried into the Impassable Wilderness, a forbidden forest just outside of town.
Surrounded by thick, impenetrable ivy, the wilderness has long kept the townspeople from discovering what lies within. But Prue is determined to rescue her brother, no matter the danger. When she finally finds a way inside, she discovers a hidden world filled with talking animals, powerful magic, and rival factions teetering on the brink of war. With danger lurking around every corner, Prue must navigate this strange and unpredictable world before it's too late. Can she rescue her brother and find her way home, or will the wilderness's secrets keep them both trapped forever?
Themes:
Family, siblings, magic, fear, forbidden places, plants, history, rules, humor, birds, coyotes, dark magic, loss, druids, sacrifice, pregnancy, infertility, children, tragedy, loss, losing oneself, madness, humanity, courage, consequences, responsibility, power, politics, war, friendship, self-worth, becoming a hero, nature, blood, animals, and love.
Language:
Hell - 1 Religious Exclamation - 9
B*itch is used once, by coyotes to insult one’s mother. It is used as an insult, but it does make sense with them being dogs.
When discussing his fear, one kid says, “I’m definitely a p word.”
Stuff to be aware of: (Some of this is considered spoiler territory, but I try to keep things ambiguous)
Alcohol and Drugs - None
Gross - There are some bloody moments that will be described in the Violence/Gore Section.
A group of talking coyotes discusses who peed on the fire and made it go out.
A coyote licks his groin area, but all that can be seen is fur.
LGBTQ - A few references and possible kissing and embracing.
A father, when talking about his baby son, says whoever he marries, “he, she, or them…”
In a scene where families are united, a female runs up and hugs and embraces what looks like another female.
During a scene where several couples kiss, there is a couple that is hard to determine if it is a man and woman kissing or two men.
Both of these scenes seem to be a bit ambiguous and left up to interpretation.
Scary - While this movie isn’t intended to be scary, there are some very intense scenes.
There is a brief scene with animals in a forest that have glowing red eyes. One is an owl who’s head turns around in a creepy manor.
Sexual - While there isn’t any “sexual” content, there is some talk of conception, and a character’s bare buttocks is shown.
During the first 5 minutes of the movie, a young boy is seen naked. His butt is briefly shown multiple times. In one scene, his privates are almost seen, but nothing is shown.
Multiple times, characters refer to some characters as being “conceived in magic.”
Violence/Gore - There is a good amount of fighting, stabbing, battles, and even some blood in the film. It is rated PG-13 after all.
This could be considered spoiler territory. You’ve been warned.
A boy sticks his hand into his chest, ripping out a cog and exposing cogs inside his body. At first, the audience naturally believes he is a real boy.
A character gets hit by a car; he doesn’t seem to be hurt by this.
Characters walk into a field where a battle has been. Dead bodies litter the ground; some have arrows and spears sticking out of them.
Characters are stabbed in the chest and shot, but no blood is shown.
A character falls off a cliff to his death. His body is shown after wasting away and becoming bones.
Crows get shot by rifles and “poof” into a cloud of feathers.
Several people in cages are shot and killed. The audience sees one hit the floor of his cage and his hand flops through the bars.
Multiple characters are shot with arrows and stabbed with swords. These scenes are not gory, but you do witness the stabbings happen.
The final battle was reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. You will witness many humans, coyotes, animals, and birds die. Some are caught on fire, some are bitten; in silhouette, a human’s head is seen flying from his body, a knife enters someone’s forehead, and crows attack humans’ faces.
When a coyote is killed, the blood splatters on a character’s face.
A character has a cut on her hand which visually bleeds.
A main plot point is a baby being sacrificed, and the baby gets put on the alter.
A character gets stabbed through the chest by tree roots, but miraculously no blood or gore is seen.
Religion - A man mentions a woman’s tent having Satanic symbols on it, and he says, “that’s not good.”
Other - Sacrifices, suicide, and fertility problems are all parts of the movie.
A young boy falls from a balcony on purpose. (Spoiler Alert) He is a robot, but looks real. If that matters.
A couple talks about how they could not get pregnant.
Overall:
Seeing It With Your Family
About halfway through the movie, my twelve-year-old daughter leaned over and whispered, “This is dark.” I couldn't have agreed more.
Don't let the stop-motion animation fool you. Wildwood is rated PG-13, and it comes from LAIKA, the studio behind Coraline and ParaNorman. While both of those films are considered classics by many, they're also the kind of movies that could easily give younger viewers a few nightmares. Wildwood follows in those same unsettling footsteps, and I could certainly see it frightening younger children. If you're considering taking your kids, I strongly encourage you to read through each of the content sections above before making that decision.
I haven't read the book myself, but my wife has, and she confirmed that the source material is pretty dark as well. After all, we're talking about a story with major plot points involving the death of a child, the potential sacrifice of a baby, infertility, and the horrors of war. That's some pretty heavy material for an animated adventure!
To be fair, there isn't much here that you wouldn't encounter in many of today's live-action superhero movies. However, there's something about seeing these events unfold through stop-motion animation that makes them feel a little different—and, at times, even more disturbing. Throughout the film, you'll witness a character running around engulfed in flames, characters being shot and stabbed, a scene involving partial nudity, and a character being bitten by a coyote.
Ultimately, Wildwood may look like a whimsical children's adventure on the surface, but its darker themes and unsettling imagery make it a film parents should approach with caution. Just because a movie is animated doesn't mean it's intended for younger audiences.
What I Thought
The stop-motion animation in Wildwood is, without a doubt, some of the best I've ever seen. The film reportedly took 16 years to bring to life, and if that's true, every minute of that effort shows on screen. The animation is absolutely gorgeous, with a level of detail that makes you feel as though you've stepped right into this strange and magical world. Add in superb voice acting and relatable characters, and you have a movie that is visually stunning and emotionally engaging.
Yes, there are some dark themes, but I appreciated that they never felt like they were included simply for shock value. The darker elements fit naturally within the world, its characters, and especially its villain. Rather than being thrown in carelessly, they serve a purpose and are woven into the very fabric of the story and the world.
In many ways, Wildwood reminded me of Jim Henson's Labyrinth, only with a lot less playfulness and a much darker edge. That's not to say the movie is without humor. There were several moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud. However, those lighter moments are balanced by some very real sorrow, frightening situations, and even violence. The movie isn't afraid to let its characters experience the weight of what is happening around them.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how the story emphasizes that actions have consequences. The choices characters make, whether good or bad, have lasting effects on themselves and others. By the time the credits roll, the film has managed to communicate some meaningful moral lessons without feeling like it's preaching at the audience.
So, did I enjoy Wildwood? Absolutely. It's a good story, beautifully told, and I can certainly see myself watching it again with the rest of my family. However, I don't see it becoming one of those movies I return to over and over again. I'm glad I experienced it, but I don't necessarily feel the need to revisit it regularly. That said, I can easily imagine this movie developing a devoted following. Fans of Coraline, in particular, may find themselves returning to Wildwood again and again, collecting merchandise, admiring the artistry, and discovering new details with each viewing.
My bottom line? If you're an adult who loves fantasy, imaginative storytelling, and the incredible craftsmanship of stop-motion animation, Wildwood is definitely worth seeing. Just understand that its beautiful animation doesn't necessarily make it a children's movie. Its darker subject matter may be too much for younger viewers, and its overall tone certainly won't appeal to everyone.
Wildwood may not be a movie for everybody, but for the right audience, it could be something truly special.