Overview
- The film, which had its world premiere at the London Film Festival on Sunday, opened to largely positive reviews that singled out its handcrafted puppetry and large‑scale visual ambition.
- Reviewers highlighted six‑time Oscar‑nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel’s first work on an animated feature for giving the stop‑motion imagery a live‑action feel and striking camera work.
- Wildwood features a large ensemble voice cast including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali and adapts Colin Meloy’s novel about a teen drawn into a perilous forest.
- Critics noted the film’s PG‑13 rating and its roughly 132‑minute runtime, saying the darker tone and longer length set it apart from typical family animation without undermining its spectacle.
- Laika plans the North American premiere at AFI Fest later in October and a U.S. wide release on October 23, 2026, and reviewers framed the festival run as part of a push to showcase tactile filmmaking and build awards momentum.