Cast: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan Review by Carol Allen
In the detail of its settings, where the trees in the Wildwood of the title seem almost to breathe, while the whole production is beautifully lit. It’s not a bad story either. Strong fantasy set in a world that’s on a par with Narnia or Middle Earth
It is unusually dark in places for a genre normally regarded as one for children, right from the opening scene, which at first appears to show a child throwing himself from a terrace to his death. We then discover he is a robot but the reaction of the woman who appears to be his mother hints at her tragedy. The dowager governess Alexandra (beautifully voiced by Carey Mulligan) is the wicked witch figure in this tale but the sadness in her life evokes our sympathy as well. The film well merits its 12A certificate. There’s a lot of very grown up stuff in it.
The story is set in Portland, Oregon, home I’m told of America’s grooviest hipsters. Couples like the parents of 12 year old Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee). This happy family is completed by Prue’s baby brother Mac, adored by all. But when left by her parents to look after him and told not leave the house, the naughty girl defies them and takes Mac on a cool afternoon of fun around town with her nerdy schoolmate Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) tagging along. But while Prue is introducing Mac to the joys of the roundabout and slide in the children’s play area, the sky darkens as a huge and scary flock of crows descends and makes off with poor little Mac. Prue and Curtis realise they are taking Mac into the wildwood forest next to the city, where strange creatures are said to dwell and no-one dares enter. Except of course plucky Prue, who sets off in there to rescue her brother, accompanied by her nerdy friend, who turns out in the end not be so nerdy after all.
And so the adventure begins. The Wildwood, you’ll not be surprised to hear, is ruled over by the wicked Alexandra, who has young Mac in her clutches and has at her command an army of fierce and very scary, red-coated coyotes. There’s also a beautiful golden eagle (Angela Basset) who’s on the side of the young people and a human bandit leader called Brendan,(Mahershala Ali). As is to be expected in this sort of tale, the children encounter many strange creatures and have lots of adventures before they rescue Mac after a climactic battle between Brendan’s mob and Alexandra’s fierce army, which does, I have to admit, go on a bit.
The most memorable part of the tale for my money though is the truly moving back story of the not totally evil Alexandra, the tragedy behind that first scene of the self destructive robot child and her past encounter with Prue’s parents. That is the true stuff of fairy tales.
About the Author
