Parents' Guide to

Wildlike

By Amanda Nojadera, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Profound coming-of-age drama deals with edgy topics.

Movie NR 2015 104 minutes
Wildlike Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In Wildlike, 14-year-old Mackenzie (Ella Purnell) is sent to live with her uncle (Brian Geraghty) in Juneau, Alaska, while her mother seeks treatment (for an unspecified condition) in Seattle. When her uncle betrays her trust and their relationship turns sour, Mackenzie runs away and must figure out how to make it back to safety. Without a plan or anyone she can trust, her connection with lone backpacker Rene "Bart" Bartlett (Bruce Greenwood) becomes Mackenzie's only chance of survival. Although Bart reluctantly lets Mackenzie shadow him across the Alaskan wild, the two form an incredible bond and learn how to face their problems.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Frank Hall Green's profound coming-of-age drama/adventure may often move slowly, but it delicately explores mature topics like grief and sexual abuse. Purnell shines as the misunderstood Mackenzie, who relies on facial expressions and body language to convey her angst. Although her interactions with her uncle are revealed through text messages and voicemails, it doesn't belittle the seriousness of sexual abuse. Instead, it mirrors her fear to open up to others and her desperation to find someone she can trust. And as Mackenzie ventures further into the wild, her conversations with Bart, Jeanie (Ann Dowd), and Masafumi (Tom Okamoto) help her understand that running away isn't the answer and that it takes time to heal.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Wildlike's messages. What point is it trying to make? Is it successful? What audience do you think it's trying to reach? How can you tell?

  • Teens: If you found out that someone you knew had an experience like Mackenzie's, what would you do? Do you think it was handled correctly in the movie? Who can you turn to in a situation like this?

  • Do you think it was OK for Bart to read Mackenzie's text messages?

Movie Details

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