Written by Sarah Mason. Photo courtesy of IMDb.
Director Henry Selick is responsible for bringing to life many of the stories this generation of children and young adults consider classics. Partnered with Jordan Peele, director and writer of many contemporary horror hits like “Get Out,” “Nope” and “Candyman”, Selick once again made a new classic, “Wendell and Wild”. This stunning stop-motion film utilizes underrepresented voices to tell a dark, poignant and hilarious tale of finding power, overcoming grief and forgiving oneself for past mistakes.
The film begins with a car crash that kills Kat Elliot’s parents, leaving her orphaned and riddled with grief. Her childhood is troubled and she lives in isolation, afraid that she’ll hurt anyone that gets close to her. When Kat gets transferred to a new school, her wall comes down. She befriends Raul and finds a mentor in Sister Helley. Wendell and Wild, two demons living inside the nose of the underworld creature Buffalo Belzar, trick Kat into summoning them into the Land of the Living by promising her they’ll bring her parents back to life.
The film weaves comedy, topical sociopolitical details and a heartwarming story with stunning visuals. There were many style designs similar to Selick’s famous “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and his underappreciated “Monkeybone”, including the Scream Fair, a hellish amusement park on Buffalo Belzar’s belly where ghosts take rides.
This uplifting yet creepy film is masterfully created, only furthering Selick’s and Peele’s high reputation for their dynamic and moving stories.
