(Netflix © 2022)
Netflix’s animated “Wendell & Wild” is the latest from Jordan Peele, writer of “Get Out,” “Us,” and, most recently, the horror Sci-Fi film “Nope.”
Within a few moments into the stop-motion film, co-written by Peele, things start to get a little dark. Kat, the main character, loses both her parents to an accident that she blames herself for. She grows up with guilt, anger and a very tough interior. This ultimately leads her to juvie, where she is sent to a Catholic school, “Break the Cycle,” in her old hometown. She lets the school know quickly she is not one to be played with.
“Bad things happen to people I’m close to,” she said as a reason not to make friends. She looks super cool with her green hair, platform boots and three eyebrow piercings; however, she has some trouble fitting into her old town, which has now turned empty and cold.
Soon Kat realizes she has powers, some of which she really can’t control, this ultimately leads her to meet her demons, Wendell and Wild, played by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. Her demons come from another world full of schemes, demons and bugs. Through Kat, they make it to the land of the living. They both do not have the best intentions; however, they discover something magical that could awaken a whole cemetery.
She ultimately makes a deal with them, but in the midst of that, she has to fight her demons and childhood trauma, her memories which hold on to the guilt and anger she feels from the night her parents passed. The 13-year-old shero does what she needs to do to save the ones she cares about and her town.
“Wendall & Wild” pokes at issues within society and the judicial system throughout the film, which adds some realistic moments to the movie. While the film is dark it does lack the jump scare, horror feeling that you may expect; however, the eye-catching visuals and unpredictable storyline will keep you wanting to watch. It also makes for a great family night movie.