Critics highly praise Laika’s “Wildwood”

The London Film Festival recently hosted the world premiere of the latest animated feature from Laika studios, Wildwood.

Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with the film currently holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 85 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics have hailed the movie as a potential contender for film of the year, describing it as a “masterpiece,” the “pinnacle” of Laika’s filmography, and a true “visual sensation.”

However, not all reception was entirely glowing. David Ehrlich of IndieWire acknowledged that while Wildwood acts as a welcome “antidote to the worst trends in modern animation,” it still struggles with a chaotic narrative. Similarly, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian expressed reservations regarding the film’s screenplay.

Director Travis Knight, known for Kubo and the Two Strings, first began developing the project in the late 2000s. The production process was monumental, involving the creation of 142,000 individual 3D elements and a filming schedule that spanned more than three years.

Adapted from the novel by Colin Meloy, the story follows Prue McKeel, a 12-year-old girl from Portland who ventures into the mysterious Impassable Wilderness to rescue her kidnapped brother. The film features a star-studded voice cast, including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Angela Bassett, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, and Tom Waits.

Wildwood is scheduled for theatrical release in Russia on December 3.

Photo: Laika

Source: Film.ru