Wild—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

Wild. Released: Dec. 19, 2014. Running time: 115 mins. Rated: R for sexual content, nudity, drug use, and language.

Cheryly Strayed, a 26-year-old woman in California, found herself being sucked into a vortex of sexual promiscuity and substance abuse. As part of an effort to break the downward spiral of her wild lifestyle, in 1995 Strayed decided to use the Western wilderness as therapy. Although she had no previous backpacking experience, she determined to make a solitary trek along 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, beginning in the Mojave Desert of southern California and ending at the Oregon/Washington border. Her hope was that the trek would help her center her life and regain self-confidence and self-respect.

Strayed's book about her experiences, Wild, appeared in 2012, and now we have the film based upon that book. Reese Witherspoon is Strayed in the film. Perhaps “is Strayed” should be in boldface, for Witherspoon is completely convincing in the role. The young woman trudges through arid lands, wetlands, mountain ranges and deep forests, acquiring numerous cuts and bruises along the way. She encounters animals, including horses, foxes, insects, snakes and even a llama. She also encounters a variety of people, including friendly farmers, happy hippies and some rednecks who, for a while, may make audiences think that Wild is going to become Deliverance II.

It doesn't, and that is one of the film's strengths. It does not overstate. Strayed encounters foxes, but she doesn't battle bears or dance with wolves. Her achievement in completing the task that she set herself is presented as a victory, but as a victory for one specific woman, not a “triumph of the human spirit.” Strayed overcomes many challenges, but they are not presented as mind-boggling ordeals.

Director Jean-Luc Vallee deserves much credit for this approach, and for his technique of alternating scenes—first, lengthy periods of long- and medium-range shots of Strayed alone and moving mostly in a straight line through usually beautiful country; then, flashbacks done in tightly shot, fast-moving cuts showing Strayed embroiled with other people in graphic situations. The technique well expresses the theme of regaining a sense of control and direction. Joining Witherspoon as Strayed might help the moviegoer maintain—or even regain—a similar sense. In any case, Wild is worth a “trek” to the theatre.