Indie Jones
I was told by several people to check this film out. A couple of years later, I finally had a chance to screen it. Wildlike takes you on an uncomfortable journey, including violence specifically sexual abuse in a world that most would not want to inhabit. Its well written and the execution of the script is flawless. The story does a great job of sucking you in even though you're not sure you want to be sucked in. The cast is superb led by Ella Purnell who plays the lead. Her character is a troubled teen sent to live in Alaska with her uncle. You may not agree with how she lives her life, you might even start out not even liking this character, but it doesn't take long until you are hooked. You want to see her triumph; you want her to be redeemed. Does it happen? No spoilers here folks, you'll have to watch to find out and I think you'll be glad you did. Solid acting throughout, beautifully shot and wonderfully directed. I give Wildlike a solid 8 and a high recommendation.
Leo Sopicki
(Originally published on www.Blogcritics.org) Wildlike, a film by writer/director Frank Hall Green, was shown during the eighteenth Dances With Films (DWF) indie-film festival in Hollywood, May 28 – June 7. Dances With Films promotes itself as relying on "innovation, talent, creativity, and sweat equity" rather than celebrity. All those good qualities are evident in Wildlike.The film has an intriguing story, great characters, and an interesting production history.The Story Wildlike stars newcomer Ella Purnell (Maleficent, Never Let Me Go) as Mackenzie, a 14 year old whose father has died. Her mother, played by Diane Farr (NUMB3RS, Rescue Me), says she needs time to get her life in order and continue her therapy, so she sends Mackenzie from their home in Seattle to spend time with her uncle in Alaska. The uncle, portrayed by Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker, Flight), turns out to be a sexual predator. Unable to contact her mother, Mackenzie decides to flee into what is to her the alien world of Alaska.Desperate and alone, she stalks and latches on to Rene Bartlett, a lone backpacker played by Bruce Greenwood (I,Robot, Star Trek, Mad Men). Their relationship, challenged by the rugged nature of Alaska, bears, police, and ultimately the creepy uncle, moves them through a range of emotions and growth.The Characters Purnell's portrayal of Mackenzie is impressive. She begins as a barely tolerable teenager (aren't they all), but we manage to feel sympathy for her because she does have real problems. She starts full of self-pity and low self-esteem. She is forced to grow as she must maneuver in a world without adult support.Greenwood's character, Rene, has his problems, too. He wants to be alone with the memories of his recently deceased wife, re-visiting the trails they walked upon. The last thing he wants is an obnoxious teenager following him around. His character also grows in response to the challenges.I was particularly impressed with the character of Rene. He is faced with challenges and temptations and behaves in an unexpected manner. He is something rarely seen in current films: a good, moral man.The Production I spoke with writer/director Frank Hall Green after the screening. This film, Green's debut as a director, not only tells the story of a long journey, its road to Dances With Films was a long journey as well.Green, a backpacker himself, had explored Alaska many years ago. He completed the first draft of Wildlike in 2010 and walked the route he envisioned for Mackenzie.During 2010-12, Green lined up the cast. He saw Ella Purnell in Never Let Me Go, and was impressed. Purnell, a native of England, auditioned with a perfect American accent and that sealed the deal.During pre-production, to find locations, Green and producer Joseph Stephens trekked along Mackenzie's path yet again. The production began in Anchorage. On the tenth day of filming the cast and crew formed a caravan and began a 3000 mile trip around Alaska. Making things more challenging, in order to capture the beauty of Alaska, they recorded the movie on 35mm film. Those cameras are heavy, but the crew carried them up and down mountains and glaciers.After the film was completed, the next part of the journey began.Wildlike has been invited to over 90 film festivals and has won 50 festival awards, including 21 Best Film and Audience Awards. According to Green, a distribution deal is near. To find out when Wildlike will go to theaters and VOD, sign up at the film's website.
Carol Brittain House
Wildlike is a most captivating film about a 14 year old girl, Mackenzie, who's father passed away a year before. With her mother, in what we assume is drug rehabilitation, this 14 year old girl is sent to stay with her mother's brother in Juneau, Alaska. After escaping from this man's abuse, she meets up with Bart, an upstanding, very ruddy handsome, older man with whom she feels a real sense of safety. Bart is on a quest to accept a loss of his own and plans to hike the Danali National Park in Alaska alone. This beautiful young lady insists, in a most persistent but adorable way, that she is going to tag along on Bart's hike. Bart, of course, tries his best to dissuade her from joining him. This film will tug at your heartstrings and will keep you focused and entertained throughout. The two main characters, Mackenzie and Bart, are cast perfectly. This is a film that you will not want to miss, a film that should be in all theaters, not just at independent film festivals but so glad that the Durango Film Festival chose it for ours.
