Wildwood: "They warned me Satan would be attractive."

Riot’s Reviews: Wildwood

In the fascinating world of stop-motion animation, LAIKA is kind of undefeated. Just take a look at their filmography: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link. These are all exceptionally unique titles, with varying levels of out-of-the-box, quirky, and dark-fantasy storytelling that never fails to amaze visually. Content-wise, the studio has pushed at the bounds of what stop-motion animation has to offer to audiences. But, as acknowledged by multiple other film reviews I put out, society has come to a bit of an impasse about what “animation” or “animated films” are supposed to mean and to which audience these films are really targeted to. It’s a bit of a culture shock as far as I’m concerned and with their latest title Wildwood hitting theaters, it seems like the line has officially been crossed.

I don’t like to mince words and I certainly won’t be doing that here. Wildwood is one of the most inherently evil and disturbing movies I have seen in a while. And I will get my normal disclaimer typically delivered at the end of my reviews out of the way now: PARENTS: Do NOT take your children to see this movie. I’m a realist, I know I’m not speaking to some grand audience, but it would be against my own conscience not to put this in, especially considering we live in a world where parents were taking their children to see Buddy, fully under the impression that it was a children’s film and not satirical horror. I can already sense the retort, “But LAIKA’s films were never meant for kids.” Yeah, I get that but am I supposed to believe a media (stop-motion/claymation) that had origins directly linked to children’s entertainment, that each carried a PG rating up until now, and where most of the main characters are themselves children, is in fact not children’s entertainment? Sounds is an asinine hill to die on.

Let’s also consider that Wildwood carries only a PG-13 rating. Here’s what’s listed: “The film adaptation carries a PG-13 rating for strong fantasy violence, bloody images, thematic material, suicide-related material, and brief partial nudity/language.” The opening TWO minutes of the film features the nudity and suicide of a pre-teen boy. “Strong fantasy violence” is laughably understated. There’s war, decapitation, mauling, stabbing, shooting, burning, and explosions all layered on top of a screaming baby who has been kidnapped for the direct, stated purpose of child blood sacrifice. This is all without even considering the final takeaway message of the film, when thought about for even half a second devolves into a nihilistic, frankly anti-humanity sickening bent. Then, when all is said and done, you’re forced to consider that this film is based off what is actively labelled as a “children’s novel.” So even if I make the argument that this is a film is not for kids (which it is not) I’m then horrified to consider what exactly is in this book and even further worried about its access to young minds. Is this an adaptation taken too far? Or is the war on children everything it already seems to be?

Another disheartening part in all of this is that I’ve never seen a more visually inspired, physically ambitious piece of art quite like this. There’s nothing I could possibly say as a negative toward the visual effects of this film. It’s incredible to see how far this art craft and technology has come and LAIKA deserves all the praise and credentials it can take for what they created in this medium. You’re often so busy being outright stunned by the visuals that you’re slightly blinded to the content that’s being pushed on the screen. The voice acting is top notch and the music/soundtrack supplement the story in the best way. I think that’s what bummed me out the most about the whole experience. Knowing what a studio is capable of and using such talent, gifts, and discipline to tell a story that degrades the human experience rather than showcases everything it can be. There are some positive nuggets in there (heroism, family, dedication) but it all gets lost underneath the overtone of yet another film that tells the audience to feel bad for a villain, who spends the entire thing being a truly irredeemable monster.  

Riot’s Rating: I can’t find an honest numerical value on this one. Based on early reviews, I’m certainly the odd man out here. I don’t care. Second warning to parents, leave the kids at home.

P.S. Being that LAIKA’s studios are in Portland, I’m certain their depiction of the city was supposed to be a love letter to it. Seemed pretty insulting to me.

P.S.S. I’m not sure how many more stories I can take that paint the fathers/men as pathetic, cowardly, and weak. We get it, you hate men.