Wildlike
Dustin Chase
Wildlike is not to be confused with Wild, the film starring Reese Witherspoon, or Into the Wild, which was also filmed in Alaska. Wildlike is the latest indie from Frank Hall Green that takes us into the 49th state, an area seemingly only used for films when the plot requires stunning scenery and a character running from something. Wildlike is the type of film that has a lot to say but chooses to do it visually instead of with words or dialogue. Unfortunately, Green spends too much time with the cinematographer and not enough on the script or with the actors. A very talented cast, including critically acclaimed character actors Bruce Greenwood (Thirteen Days), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), and Ann Dowd (Compliance), mostly get only one scene, and their talents are not exercised.
Sent to Juneau to live with her uncle (Geraghty) for a while, Mackenzie (Ella Purnell) is still dealing with the loss of her father and now the rehab and substance abuse of her mother back in Seattle. Her uncle has more on his mind than caring for his 14-year-old niece as he joins her in bed, unable to keep his hands off. Mackenzie decides she is better off in the wild on her own and tries to make her way back to Washington. Since Juneau is somewhat isolated, it proves difficult for her, but she makes friends with traveler Rene Bartlett (Greenwood) who is experiencing his own sadness. Mackenzie manages to gain Rene’s trust without revealing her circumstances, and they become exactly the type of friends each one needs.
The visuals in correlation with the musical score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans really make for a beautiful film.
The visuals, cinematography, and use of location are beautiful and compelling. I think the storyboarding and concept of location came before the script, as that seems to be the focus. Green, who also wrote the screenplay, seems to want to say something about the culture and people who visit Alaska. Yet we don’t see or meet anyone who is native to the area in the script. Continuing his visual narrative, Green allows newcomer Purnell to tell us her story and explain her pain and disappointment through her eyes and body language. Down’s character drops in seemingly out of nowhere and profoundly impacts the story, injecting life back into the film at that particular moment.
The visuals, in correlation with the musical score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, really make for a beautiful film. However, I walked away from this film, not understanding or feeling like I really knew any of these characters. The development of everyone is severely underwritten. With the uncle figure especially, we never understand his real motives or why he would even chase her (except that Green wants this to be a very light suspense thriller). While spewing profound remarks, Dowd’s character seems more like a figment of imagination than someone one might actually run into in Denali National Park. The worst would be Nolan Gerard Funk (The Canyons), an up-and-coming actor who is almost a stand-in in that his role is so brief and forgettable.
Final Thought
Visually stunning, but lacks major character development and purpose.