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Drama thriller

Wildling (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Wildling (2018) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$504.7K
Echo Score
60
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Wildling (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Fritz Böhm
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Fantasy , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Wildling

· 10 more
Ratings

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).

60 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Wildling Box Office

Wildling grossed $504,718 worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$504.7K

International
$504.7K
Videos

Wildling Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Wildling.

Official Trailer
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What name does Gabriel Hanson go by while holding Anna captive?

Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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