Wildhood

From the mighty fine short film - Wildfire - comes a fine feature.

What this film desperately needed was a script editor to highlight the few inconsistencies and improbabilities...but, when the budget is this tight, a few links - invariably - become loose in the chain. Thankfully, not loose enough to break it!

There is much to admire...the cinematography, on this kind of a budget, is beyond impressive. The score...it just needed more!

The performances are all solid...with young Avery Winters-Anthony being the only actor to reprise his role. Chemistry, between the two leads, had to be vital...and, as understated as it is...it is. The beautifully lit [and edited] sex scene is testament to good taste and unharried filmmaking.

Mi'kmaq culture could have been shown more...with a powwow, which was sign-posted and expected...but, damn budget constraints, never appeared.

But...what Wildhood really needed was the defiant stand-off that Wildfire had...it really would have been that defining moment, the point when the boy becomes his own man...cutting and tying the ties that bound and bind.

Bretten Hannam has to be congratulated and applauded for what he has done with his short film. It really is fascinating to see how 12 minutes can be developed [rather than stretched] into something more worthwhile than ample. Wildhood is a fine feature...it could have done with a bit more fire!

Trailer...