Wildlife
A teenage boy is forced to navigate the shifting loyalties and quiet devastation of his parents’ collapsing marriage in 1950s Montana.
Overview
A poignant exploration of family dynamics and personal turmoil set against the backdrop of 1950s Montana.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- restrained
- quiet evening
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a beautifully composed, emotionally moving family drama distinguished by Paul Dano's meticulous direction and Carey Mulligan's exceptional performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe's experience of his parents' separation supplies the film's emotional and observational point of access.
Jerry's forest-fire job intensifies Jeanette's fears and reflects the family's escalating instability.
Critics specifically praised Paul Dano's meticulous direction and elegant spare compositions, supported by Diego Garcia's cinematography.
The marriage breakdown, job loss, gender expectations, and adolescent unease unfold in 1950s Montana.
Films like Wildlife, and why
Kramer vs. Kramer
quiet domestic drama focused on marital breakdown, emotional distance, and a child observing adult conflict
The Ice Storm
subtle family crisis rendered through a young person's perspective, with restrained performances and bittersweet emotional realism
A Separation
period domestic drama about fractured family relationships, parental disappointment, and adolescent emotional awakening
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Dano
- Release Date
- 2018-09-23
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (800)
Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal
- Carey Mulligan
- Ed Oxenbould
- Zoe Colletti
- Bill Camp
- Travis W Bruyer
- Tom Huston Orr
- Darryl Cox
- Ginger Gilmartin
- Michael Gibbons
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Criterion Channel, Sundance Now, MUBI Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wildlife about?
- A teenage boy is forced to navigate the shifting loyalties and quiet devastation of his parents’ collapsing marriage in 1950s Montana.
- What is Wildlife like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wildlife as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Wildlife violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Wildlife.
- What did critics think of Wildlife?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a beautifully composed, emotionally moving family drama distinguished by Paul Dano's meticulous direction and Carey Mulligan's exceptional performance.
- Which films are like Wildlife?
- Films with a similar feel include Kramer vs. Kramer, The Ice Storm, and A Separation.
- How long is Wildlife?
- Wildlife runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wildlife?
- In United States, Wildlife streams on Netflix, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Criterion Channel, Sundance Now, MUBI Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads.
