Simply A Masterpiece

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Great Film overall

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I'm pretty obsessed with this movie. It's very rare that a movie (especially one listed on Netflix) takes you through a poignant journey with believable characters and actual character development. It is also very rare to see a bond between a male and female character that is entirely non-sexual in nature. The movie was satisfying from start to finish and featured beautiful locations. The relationship between the abused and her abuser was very realistic. The creators of this movie should be proud.

At no time did I not feel for the female lead in this movie. The actress portrayed the huge struggles in her life with her face and eyes despite the minimal script, or because of it... and all the trauma of being abused, afraid, entrapped, alone and homeless, and then surviving as best she could, with utmost realism. Not once did she err on the side of overacting or melodrama.The male leads were also perfectly cast and did an excellent job.I have no idea what was going on with the countryside in the Alaskan mountains, whereby either the camera was hand-held and the scenery was jumping or it was superimposed... that was weird but only lasted for about 10 minutes of the movie... not in a big way but it was a little amateurish.I would have liked to have learned why the girl's father died... we didn't and so, under the assumption that her mother was an addict who was supposed to be in 'treatment' but who checked herself out and disappeared, did this poor young protagonist have a father who od'd, was dysfunctional etc etc??I got the impression that the situation presenting in this movie regarding the sexual abuse was not new to the girl in the role and that perhaps this 14 year old had just being going the 'easy route' with a long list of abusive mother's boyfriends for years... it certainly wasn't portrayed as if this kind of abuse was new to her, rather that the way she had learned to cope with it was to deal with it as per the movie shows.In my experience, if a young person feels unsupported and that there is no one who cares or to turn to, they develop low key coping mechanisms but begin to show the long term side effects of the abuse as a 'life skill'.All very well done until the worst ending in living history, making me feel I had just sat and watched an intelligent and powerful movie until the director or somebody got bored and yelled 'cut' without any even vaguely, not even close to an intelligent ending.I have no idea what happened. Frankly, the guy should have been taken to the police and so on. No idea what happens in the end. I was left feeling like a pancake... flat and covered in layers of sugar coated junk.

When I first saw the trailer and guessed what this film might be about, I was very nervous. I was nervous that such an important story might not be handled well, especially by a male director. The few films that I have seen depict rape/molestation have presented it in a way that didn't feel real to me. Others had been too theatrical, too overdone, and too violent.After seeing Wildlike, I knew that writer/director Frank Hall Green had done his research on the subject matter. Real life abuse isn't always loud and violent as we often see it portrayed, but it can be quiet and fleeting as it slips into daily routines with terrifyingly familiar people. In real life the darkest moments of our lives often go unspoken, revealed only in glances or implied in what is left unsaid. Wildlike captures this flawlessly.Wildlike depicts the quietness of pain, but also the placid and beautiful journey to healing that can follow. It is refreshingly optimistic in that it does not linger on the suffering, but instead quickly allows you to escape on an adventure of recovery with the young protagonist. Vast and breathtaking landscapes of Alaska seem to set both the character and the audience free after a meaningfully unsettling first act. And while the scenes of sweeping landscapes captured effortlessly by Hillary Spera are incredible, it is not the purely the majesty of Alaska which defines this film's success. It is the vulnerable and compelling performances of Ella Purnell and Bruce Greenwood which drive the film, and Green's fluid approach to the human condition. Real life is beautiful in it's quietude and subtleties, and that is what Wildlike evokes so honestly.

Had the pleasure of viewing the film WildLike at the Phoenix Film Festival and just loved it. Also, really enjoyed the Q&A with one of the film's producers after the screening. WildLike contains an Engaging story, excellent performances and the Alaska scenery earning a 10+ rating.Cast: Ella Purnell (Mackenzie), Bruce Greenwood (Renee Bartlett), Brian Geraghty (Uncle), Ann Dowd (Jeanie) , Gerard Funk (Tommy) & Diane Farr (Mom) all brought their 'A' Game and then some. Again just loved this movie and highly recommend this film to those who cherish strong plot in the hands of gifted actors.