Mikes Film Talk

The 2006 horror film Wilderness could have been called “Who Let the Dogs Out.” This spot on look at Juvenile Estates in the prison system is savage and almost unrelenting.

Directed by Michael J. Bassett (Deathwatch , Solomon Kane) Wilderness is only the second feature film helmed by Bassett. He has stepped up his game with this film. Made for a budget of three million, the film did not make back it’s production. It only pulled in  just over twenty-four thousand pounds. Which is a shame, because it really is quite a good film.

The Story

Wilderness opens in a Juvenile Detention Centre aka Prison.Sean Pertwee is  prison officer  Jed, who is in charge of the young criminals. This disparate group of six lads do not get on well together. Steve (Stephen Wight) is the self proclaimed leader of the boys, his right hand man and enforcer is the hulking but simple Lewis (Luke Neal). The bully makes life miserable for Lindsey (Ben McKay) and Dave (John Travers). Steve especially likes humiliating Dave. A new arrival, Callum (Toby Kebbell) is a tough customer, who is more interested in keeping a low profile, than in challenging Steve for the position of leader.

Steve and Lewis’s campaign of hate against Dave intensifies. Dave cannot  face the abuse any more, and kills himself. Callum makes the discovery when he slips in a pool of blood and traces it back to Dave’s bed. The alarm is raised and Jed deals with the body. The prison Governor comes in to talk to the boys. He is furious that this has happened. He tells Jed to take the lads to the Island and to work them hard.

Empty, Not

The island is uninhabited and shared with other prisons who have to book time there. There should only be one group on the island at a time.When Jed and his charges arrive on the island, they begin to set up camp. These are all city lads and they are very uncomfortable camping in the woods. Every noise serves to make the boys nervous and jumpy. They set their campsite up and spend their first night uneasy and restless.

In the morning Callum goes down to a river to get the camp water. On his way back he notices what looks like an animal skull stuck on a stick. Callum looks at it. He is attacked. Callum falls to the ground unconscious. Jed tires of waiting for Callum to return so he gets the lads together to search for him. They find Callum and Jed decides that he must have tripped and fallen. The inmates spend the rest of the day participating in team building activities. Returning to their camp site, they encounter another camp site. They investigate.

It Gets Worse

While Jed is looking into a tent Louise (Alex Reid) shows up and asks Jed what he thinks he is doing. The island is double booked. Juvenile delinquents from both sexes camping out.  After a short discussion, Jed and Louise decide to share the island. Jed and his six lads are to stay on the east side of the river and Louise and her two charges are to stay on the west. Once Jed and the lads return to the camp, he sends them out orienteering.

Steve and Lewis find yet another person on the supposedly unhabited island, a hermit. They begin to beat the old man up. Later Callum goes to the same place and finds the hermit with his throat ripped out. While Callum is checking to see if the man is alive, Louise’s two girls see him and go back to tell Louise. Callum goes to a stream to wash his bloody hands. Jed and Louise take Callum down and handcuff him, thinking that he has killed the hermit.

The two groups decide to band together and leave the island the next day to contact the authorities. In the morning Jethro goes to collect water for the two groups.When Jethro doesn’t come back Jed sends Blue and Lindsay down to find him. The group discover Jethro dead and hanging from a tree. They rush back to the camp and tell everyone about Jethro.

Exit

Jed starts getting everyone organised. He is shot with a crossbow bolt. Two more arrows pierce his chest. He slumps down against a tree. Louise and Callum try to help Jed. Attack dogs run through the woods to the camp. Callum and Louise get away but not poor Jed the dogs savage him to death.  In the mad scramble to get away from the dogs, Louise goes missing.

The remaining campers now have to keep away from the killer dogs . They also must avoid the mystery person who is shooting the crossbow. They must fight to stay alive and get off the island.

Wilderness boasts a splendid cast.

Sean Pertwee, dying as usual in the second reel; Alex Reed, no stranger to horror films (The Descent) and Toby Kebbell. Kebbell in a role completely different than the character he played just previously in Dead Man’s Shoes.

In fact the casting for the film was brilliant. The youngsters playing the prison inmates sounded exactly how they should. They all seem to have come from London and talked in the ‘gangster’ style that juvenile delinquents favour. The cinematography is crisp and makes the most of the location. The plot is nothing spectacular, but it kept me guessing for a good bit as to who was killing everyone.

The Verdict

I was impressed with Bassett’s second visit to the horror genre. I would recommend this film highly, if for no other reason than to see the excellent performances from the actors. Not to mention the chance to hear what English teen criminals sound like, because they really do talk that way.

I know.

This is a solid 5 stars from me. The casting, the dialogue, everything was spot on. Wilderness can be streamed on a number of platforms: Prime, Pluto, Roku and even YouTube.

The Trailer

POSTSCRIPT: It has been a bit of time since I have talked with English teen criminals. The slang has most likely changed but they still suck their teeth.

Michael Knox-Smith

USA

7/24/2024