Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen drinking, drugs in vivid, poetic coming-of-age drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
All the Wilderness
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
James (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is having a difficult time dealing with his father's death. He sees a shrink (Danny DeVito) about his antisocial behavior and spends his time filling a notebook with drawings of dead animals. And his exasperated mother (Virginia Madsen) wants him to enroll in a special school that she thinks will help. Then, while out wandering around, James meets a orphan, teen pianist Harmon (Evan Ross), and crosses paths with a girl he briefly met in the shrink's office, Val (Isabelle Fuhrman). As he becomes more involved in a world of abandoned buildings, skateboarders, and parties, James finds that he can no longer keep the truth about his father inside.
Is It Any Good?
As the debut feature for writer/director Michael Johnson, ALL THE WILDERNESS is a remarkable achievement. Many young filmmakers tell somewhat similar coming-of-age stories about lost characters, but Johnson allows the movie to become a place that his young hero can get lost in. The camera sadly searches and roams, never quite finding any answers or anywhere to land. And the main character's narration ventures further into primal themes.
Thankfully, All the Wilderness doesn't collapse into a grungy-looking, hand-held mess. Johnson prefers a dreamy look, a slow, meditative tone in which feelings, details, and ideas can be absorbed. The movie doesn't tell its story, it feels it. At only 76 minutes, the movie may feel slight, but it's slighter than a well-written short story. Johnson's touch with actors is equally instinctive; the performances are all fine, and Madsen, especially, is terrific in her sympathetic role.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teen drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in All the Wilderness. Does the movie make substance use look alluring? Why do you think the characters do it? Are there consequences for their choices?
How much violence does the movie show? How does the character's black eye affect how you perceive him throughout the movie?
How does the theme of the wilderness and animals enter into the movie?
What does the movie have to say about suicide? Do you agree with its position?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 20, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : May 19, 2015
- Cast : Kodi Smit-McPhee , Isabelle Fuhrman , Evan Ross
- Director : Michael Johnson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Screen Media Films
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 76 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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