‘Wildwood’ movie review: A familiar fantasy narrative optimised with jaw-dropping spectacle
Travis Knight’s *Wildwood* is a visually ambitious stop-motion fantasy about a teenager searching for her kidnapped baby brother in a dangerous, enchanted forest. The review says its dark tone and intricate handmade world push family-oriented animation into more unsettling territory, while exploring growing up, grief and isolation.
Prue McKeel sets out after her brother Mac is taken by crows serving the mysterious Countess Alexandra, and joins forces with an alliance of animal characters. The story draws on familiar fantasy tropes and the script is described as serviceable but sometimes clichéd; the review argues that the film’s expressive characters, detailed worldbuilding and striking spectacle give those conventions emotional depth.
In short
- Travis Knight’s stop-motion fantasy pairs familiar themes with striking visual detail.
- Prue searches an enchanted forest for her kidnapped baby brother.
- The review praises its spectacle despite a sometimes bland script.
Explained simply
Wildwood is a stop-motion animated fantasy directed by Travis Knight, about a teenager, Prue McKeel, who enters an enchanted forest to find her kidnapped baby brother. There she encounters talking animals and the mysterious Countess Alexandra, whose crows took the child.
The film uses familiar fantasy elements, including a perilous quest and unlikely allies, to explore growing up, grief and isolation. Its handmade animation and dark, detailed setting place it among family films that take a more unsettling approach to fantasy.