Animation continues to be a prominent vehicle for telling stories. The medium allows the writer to nestle heavy topics in lively characters. Doing this can take the audience down a cathartic and educational path for adults and children in a way that live-action films simply can’t do. That’s true of Netflix’s latest release, Wendell & Wild.
Directed by Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas), Wendell & Wild carries all the charm of Selick’s previous productions while still delivering something fresh from the story to cinematic production choices.
After an accident on a stormy night claims her parents’ lives, Kat (Lyric Ross) spends the next five years on a downward spiral. Now 13 years old, she’s given a second chance to get it together at Rust Bang Catholic School for Girls. But the school is in her hometown, home to not only her memories but her demons.
Meanwhile, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele) are brother demons with dreams of escaping the Underworld to open up their own Scream Faire — an afterlife destination for the Souls of the Danged, which looks like the worst amusement park in the world, complete with rickety rides. Wendell and Wild have high hopes of opening their amusement park (and are excellent designers), but their father, Lord of the Underworld Buffalo Belzer (Ving Rhames), has paid them no mind.
When they find out that Kat is a Hellmaiden — someone who can summon demons — they strike a deal. Kat will free them from the underworld, and Wendell and Wild will resurrect her dead parents in exchange. Through some serious mistakes, Kat finds herself thoroughly flushed with fever and needs Sister Helley’s (Angela Bassett) help. Her demons are overtaking her, and it’s only after Kat faces the demons of her past that she can discover her power to see the future.
Everything connects in a topsy-turvy story where you simply cannot guess what will happen next. But, at this speed, it’s hard to savor any specific moment. If the pacing eased off the gas long enough to allow the story to unfold, we could’ve been drawn further into the lore of this tale.
The film is filled with subtle and strong details that add to the majesty of the production, including the juxtaposition of a fresh animated idea told through the oldest style of animation — stop motion.
The cast is filled with notable names aside from Key, Peele, Basset, and Rhames. James Hong, Natalie Martinez, Tantoo Cardinal, Gabrielle Dennis, Ramona Young, and more.
Peele co-wrote the screenplay, which was adapted from an unpublished book by Henry Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman. The balance between the characters and the story is commendable. Some scenes might spook smaller children, but nothing too frightful to give them nightmares. In Selick’s words, he provides “scares, but not scars,” which shows in his choices.
The demons aren’t evil; they just want to build their amusement park. Kat isn’t a bad child; she’s just in pain. Even the school’s “mean girls,” or as Kat would call them, “prize poodles,” are pretty nice; they’re just out-of-touch and naive to what’s going on in their town.
Another highlight of the film was the showcasing of the only boy at RBC, Raúl. The inclusion of a trans student added to the diversity of the cast. In the movie, everyone is finding a way to express how they feel or what they’re dealing with; Raúl uses art to illustrate what he sees happening in his town.
Outside of those prominent themes, the film also touches on prison for profit and corruption in small towns. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get too deep because there is little time.
Wendell & Wild oozes a dark and spooky aesthetic that instantly sets the scene for an animated horror. In the vein of other films within the genre, it pedestals both literal and metaphorical demons. You’ll feel at home if you’re a fan of Selick’s other work. If you’re unfamiliar, you’re in for a wild (pun intended) ride. It’s an unpredictable film with vibrancy, heart, and grit that’ll leave you wanting more.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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