Be Excellent To Each Other

Saw this last night, here's a review, some 'set-up' spoilers in first two paragraphs...


Where the Wild Things Are

It's not a children's film, that's pretty certain. It is, however, a film about children and is as much a frank look at how emotionally devestating and alienating they can be as they are imaginative and accepting. One night Max bites his mother and runs out into the night. Finding a sailing boat, he crosses the sea and lands on an island populated by a small gang of 'Wild Things'. Not precisely monsters, the Wild Things most certainly aren't the quirky, fast talking and ultimately lovable motley gang of creatures we find in practically every children's movie. Aside from hurting each other, their first instinct is to eat strangers, and Max is a stranger.

It's no surprise that Max befriends these creatures. What is a surprise is how delicate and ultimately painful that friendship is. Max soon finds himself in an emotional maelstrom as the film reveals that there have been kings before Max... kings who failed to keep the Wild Things happy, and were eaten for their pains.

The Wild Things are beautiful, more real than any creation I've seen on screen. This is thanks to a cunning blend of full Jim Henson monster-suit action and CGI faces. The voies are at odds with the strange and ugly-beautiful looks of the creatures, but perfectly evoke the feelings within. They are voiced as everyday humans, because they are inside just as fragile as every day child-like humans. And the Wild Things have been on their island for a long time, and violence and hopeless love are ever tearing them apart. If all this sounds heavy, it is because it is. This isn't a film for children. It is occassionally down-right threatening and dangerous. When Max is threatened, it has none of the cheap, casual, 'things will be alright' soon of most kids films. Everything will not be okay. Which is why Max and the Wild Things howl. And it's why they smash things apart and lash out at each other and have such strong intense friendship for each other that a any disappointement is a like a betrayal. And this is the way they cope, and the way they celebrate, because they are children.

The film looks beautiful, it's shot frequently hand-held, but never suffers from the evils of shakey-cam. The design is heartfelt and the entire thing is clearly a labour of love. They don't over-egg the pudding either, the wonders that are shown are never allowed to dominate - they're just there. The soundtrack is also excellent, featuring Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs doing something rather Arcade Firey. Max Records as the boy is pretty wonderful, exhibiting a great emotional range whilst still displaying the feral, wilful, obstinant nature of a child and having none of the occassionally creepy elder-wisdom of Osment or Dakota Fannning. The monsters are wonderful, displaying a real weight and presence and are funny, scary and memorable. Though to be honest if they pulled off their passive aggressiveness and were significantly smaller, they'd be asking for a slap - but they're honking huge monsters, so er, we'll forgive 'em right lads?

I won't reveal anything about the second half of the film, but I will say that it felt distinctly odd as it completely shuns the traditional three act structure and defies a tidy resolution. It's emotionally honest. Don't take young children to see this, I'd argue this is definitely a PG. It does get quite intense, and I occassionally feared for Max's safety in quite a genuine way. When chief monster and Max's closest friend Carol punches a hole in sudden anger, it does make you wince. The rage feels real.

Are there problems? Yes, but I can't quite put my finger on them. Perhaps it goes on for slightly too long, and some of the bitterness is discomforting. Things fall apart a little too fast in this film, and some more childlike joy wouldn't go amiss in the mid-section. Still, it's a highly memorable, individual movie and I can recommend it. And it is the most un-twee film I have ever seen involving big furry talking monsters, indie music and adventure. It could as easily be called 'Where the Dangerous Things Are' or 'Where the Hurting Happens' as its real title.

8/10

What an excellent review!

I skipped to your score & will wait until I've seen it before I read your writings (No, I haven't read the book). Is it likely to lose anything if I wait until I can get it on DVD instead of dealing with the cinema & it's denizens? The film I mean, not your review.

Trufax: I was in a school play adaptation of this when I was a kid.

It'll lose a bit, yeah. The way the creatures loom up over you makes you feel a little child-like as well when watching it. I would recommend the cinema, however, if you have a big TV you won't lose TOO much. There aren't big action sequences in it, but there are moments of rampage, which are ALWAYS neat.

Truefax: When I was working at the paediatrician's in Germany, I read this to a young lad. I was Max, apparently.

It is a great short story from when I was a kid..