Wildwood - Movie Review

Wildwood Review

Jeremy Jahns reviews Wildwood, a stop-motion fantasy about a girl whose baby brother is carried off by crows into an enchanted forest. She ventures in to rescue him, joined by her friend Curtis, and discovers a world filled with striking locations and memorable characters.

Jahns jokes that the film is a bit like Labyrinth—only without the labyrinth. Its adventurous, coming-of-age feel also reminds him of ’90s role-playing games and Baldur’s Gate 3.

What Works

Jahns considers the stop-motion animation the film’s biggest triumph: it’s so fluid, detailed, and epic that it seems almost magical. He also praises the emotional weight, mystery, and dramatic scenes. A fantasy battle features crunchy, damaging impacts that make clear the film isn’t aimed at very young children.

The humor gets some laughs, though it doesn’t always land as well as the drama.

What Doesn’t Work

One major gripe: Jahns finds the parents hard to like—even compared with a mass-murdering witch.

Verdict

Jahns calls Wildwood magical and absorbing, with a strong heart and astonishing animation. He recommends seeing it—and even buying it on Blu-ray—while quipping that it feels like something they don’t make anymore, partly because production began 16 years ago.

Personalities Mentioned

• Jeremy Jahns, reviewer
• Travis Knight, director
• Curtis
• The unnamed girl and her brother
• Their parents
• The witch