Wendell and Wild (2022) - Movie Review

Today in a blog, I want to talk to you guys about the brand new stop-motion comedy horror film called Wendell and Wild. Wendell and Wild movie is co-produced, co-written, and directed by Henry Selick, who has made some incredible films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Monkeybone, and Coraline.

Wendell and Wild film is about two scheming demon brothers Wendell and Wild, who enlist the help of a 13-year-old named Kat Elliott to summon them to the land of the living. Wendell and Wild is a film that I have been really looking forward to ever since I heard that director Henry Selick was a part of this project. He has made so many amazing stop-motion animated films and with having Key and Peele.

I knew that this was going to be a really good movie especially because of the fact that Jordan Pugh was actually a co-writer. He actually starred in the film and I think he was a co-producer as well and his production company also worked on this film. He also had a very strong hand in making this film. I think it really shows because this is a really good movie.

Let's just dive right into the positives. I have to start with the stop-motion animation because it is simply terrific. Stop-motion animation is just simply amazing in itself when it's done in this way by talented filmmakers. I have no idea how they're able to do it because it is just a completely different process of making a film. It sometimes takes like five to ten years just to make a stop-motion animated film like one that came out earlier this year called 'Mad God' which took over 20 to 25 years to even accomplish. I think this movie's animation is really top-tier. I think that the character designs and the creatures are very well done and very stylistic. I feel like there's so much personality within this film. I found the voice acting to be very strong here, especially with Key and Peele who are great in every single thing they do, and having them come back together after they did their show Key and Peele years ago.

It was really awesome to see and was definitely one of the reasons why I wanted to watch the movie as much as I did. Angela Bessette is also great in this movie. She normally is because you know she's a queen the score of this film is great. I found it was able to capture that Halloween creepy feel. It is just so seamless that an aspect of a film like this wouldn't be praised enough. I feel like Henry Selleck's films always have great scores and this is nonetheless here and it's very well done. I also really enjoy the story as it felt very original and interesting especially with this 13-year-old girl who had a very tragic loss and how she is able to try to recapture that feeling and trying actually make decisions that you kind of understand but may not necessarily agree with throughout the film.

Unfortunately, I do feel that this movie could have been a little bit simpler and more contained. This movie could have easily been a two-and-a-half-hour movie just because of how great some of these story ideas are. I don't feel like they're always fleshed out. I also found the film to have a strong sense of humor which is something that I think Henry suck is able to have in his movies even though it's not the main front of the film. I found the comedy to be pretty good even though this isn't the funniest film. I've ever seen it not something like Fantastic, or Mr. Fox by any means but I think the humor is pretty strong and it's definitely going for an older crowd here as this is rated PG-13. I wouldn't show younger children this movie so so keep that in mind.

Overall, Wendell and Wild is a very enjoyable stop-motion animated film that gives you everything you would want for the Halloween season. It has a ton of creepy and scary moments while also having some really good characters and humorous moments that you just can't help appreciating. It has amazing stop-motion animation, especially when it's done right. I think you guys are really going to enjoy it. I am giving Wendell and Wild film - a 7 out of 10.