Wildling (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Wildling is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Fritz Böhm, starring Bel Powley as Anna, Brad Dourif and Mike Faist. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $504,718 worldwide. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Fritz Böhm
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Wildling About?
The premise of Wildling without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Raised in complete isolation by a controlling figure, 19-year-old Anna is suddenly released into the world. She struggles to understand human society while under the guidance of a stern guardian. Drawn to the wilderness, Anna discovers a primal connection to the forest and a hidden nature that challenges her identity and threatens to overwhelm her.
Wildling Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- teenage girl
- teenage protagonist
- puberty
- mysterious man
- mysterious past
- teenage girl as protagonist
- werewolf
- creature
- teeth
- woods
- legend
- wilderness
+38 more Show fewer
- manipulation
- creature feature
- snow
- stomach ripped open
- monster
- suicide
- hospital
- watching porn
- track
- shower
- shaving legs
- bathtub
- female topless nudity
- female nudity
- jerk
- drinking
- alcohol
- bully
- rape attempt
- hermit
- homelessness
- bleeding out
- mob
- sex scene
- girl on top
- fugitive
- wildfire
- forest fire
- camouflage
- transformation
- female monster
- throat ripped out
- female rear nudity
- sex with a monster
- one word title
- violence
- murder of a school bully
- killing a school bully
Wildling Cast & Characters
Bel Powley leads the cast as Anna, with Brad Dourif as Daddy and Mike Faist as Lawrence Fowler. Directed by Fritz Böhm; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Fritz Böhm
-
Bel Powley as Anna -
Brad Dourif as Daddy -
Mike Faist as Lawrence Fowler - Troy Ruptash as Deputy Roger Fowler
Also Starring in Wildling
· 10 more- Liv Tyler Ellen Cooper
- Bhavesh Patel Doctor
- James LeGros
- Charlotte Ubben Jen
- Kelly Lamor Wilson
- Patrick M. Walsh Hunter #1
- Brian Donahue Hunter #2
- Frank Deal Chief Physician
- Collin Kelly-Sordelet Ray Cooper
- Julia Rusatsky Track Girl
Wildling Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Wildling 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
Wildling Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Wildling offers a compelling lead performance amid a visually intriguing but uneven narrative. The film’s direction delivers memorable early tension and an atmospheric aesthetic, while the pacing and plot coherence weaken beyond the first act. Character depth hinges largely on the protagonist’s nuanced portrayal, but secondary arcs feel underexplored. Consequently, Wildling achieves moderate impact yet falls short of consistent engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of art and craft, the direction establishes a striking visual atmosphere in the opening sequences, featuring evocative framing and moody lighting. Production design and cinematography reinforce the forest’s looming tension, though some nocturnal scenes suffer from overly murky imagery. Overall, the technical execution shows promise but lacks consistent clarity in visual storytelling.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, the central performance anchors the film with a nuanced portrayal that conveys both vulnerability and feral intensity. Supporting roles receive less development, limiting emotional investment in secondary relationships. The chemistry among characters occasionally feels understated, though the lead’s depth delivers the strongest moments. Net emotional resonance remains uneven.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, Wildling establishes gripping stakes in its opening act with an original premise and measured pacing. However, narrative coherence falters as the plot shifts into familiar horror tropes, introducing clichés and uneven momentum. The midsection loses its initial focus, though a more resolved conclusion partially restores engagement. Overall, the storyline feels imbalanced.
- Sensory Experience 65
When it comes to the sensory experience, the film crafts a haunting soundscape and unsettling score that heighten the early tension. Sound design and atmospheric effects immerse viewers in the forest’s oppressive mood. Visual styling combines a muted palette with stark contrasts, though some sequences suffer from indistinct imagery. Sensory engagement remains compelling yet intermittently obscured.
- Rewatch Factor 45
In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s initial premise and standout lead performance invite curiosity for repeated viewings. Yet the narrative’s uneven pacing and reliance on familiar genre conventions diminish the appeal on subsequent watches. Key thematic moments retain their impact, but the overall trajectory lacks the consistency needed for strong replay value. Rewatch potential remains modest.
-
IMDb 5.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 70% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 39%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 54% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
152 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
Wildling Plot Summary
What happens in Wildling from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In an isolated woodland home, a man known only as Daddy – his real name being Gabriel Hanson – keeps Anna locked in an attic, raising her from infancy into her teenage years. He convinces her that the outside world is dangerous, filled with a creature called a ‘wildling’ that preys on children. As time passes, Anna overhears a conversation between Daddy and Deputy Roger Fowler about their existence, prompting her to test the locked door she knows she cannot open, only to discover it is electrified. Daddy, who uses a match flame to hypnotize her, fills her mind with fabrications, claiming that they are the only two people who exist.
Full summary
The whole story of Wildling, scene by scene
Wildling Box Office
Wildling grossed $504,718 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$504.7K
- International
- $504.7K
Wildling Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Wildling.
How Well Do You Know Wildling?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What name does Gabriel Hanson go by while holding Anna captive?
Wildling Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Wildlife: une saison ardente” and “Vida Selvagem”.
- Also known as
-
- Wildlife: une saison ardente
- Vida Selvagem
- 와일드 라이프
- Lo que arde con el fuego
- Cuộc Tình Hoang Dại
- Yangın Yeri
- Wildlife : Une saison ardente
- 와일드라이프
- Дике життя
- Дикая жизнь
- 野性日記
- תמונה משפחתית
+12 more Show fewer
- Kraina wielkiego nieba
- Дивата природа
- Metsik elu
- Vadon
- Under en öppen himmel
- 狂野生活
- Divje življenje
- Incendios, ველური ცხოვრება
- Laukinis gyvenimas
- ワイルドライフ
- รัก เรา ร้าว ร้าง
- Viața sălbatică
Seen Wildling?
Movies Like Wildling
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wilderness, Wolves and Wild Lover.
Wildling FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Wildling, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Wildling?
Wildling runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was Wildling released?
Wildling was released on April 13, 2018.
Who directed Wildling?
Wildling was directed by Fritz Böhm.
Who is in the cast of Wildling?
Wildling stars Bel Powley as Anna, Brad Dourif as Daddy and Mike Faist as Lawrence Fowler, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Wildling make at the box office?
Wildling grossed $504,718 worldwide.
How is Wildling rated?
Wildling has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.
Does Wildling have a post-credit scene?
No. Wildling has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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