A woman gets a call from her mother.


THE WILDS is used with permission from Greig Johnson. Learn more at https://seaandskypictures.co.uk.


Anna Wild is an artist and metal sculptor who has been somewhat estranged from her exasperating family. But one day, she receives an urgent phone call from her desperate-sounding mother, Helen. Anna’s troubled brother Graham has returned to the family home and there's an emergency related to his "condition." Helen needs Anna’s help with him right away -- and definitely before nightfall.

Reluctantly Anna returns to the family home, where she re-encounters many of the feelings, relationships and situations that drove her away in the first place. But the emergency will also remind her of her family's loyalty and love -- and how, sometimes, family may be the only people who understand.

Directed and written by Greig Johnson, this short deftly blends a spiky yet heartwarming family story with horror and comedy. With a rush of adrenaline and energy, it begins with the powerful rush of fear and suspense, making no bones about its supernatural bent. But the funny, briskly paced and often ironic writing also takes its time establishing characters and relationships, from the strained relationship between Anna and her mother to the bond she has with her brother. The result makes for a watch that's as emotionally compelling as it is entertaining.

Like the overall story, the visuals balance a lived-in naturalism with a more heightened, dynamic approach more characteristic of a suspense or horror film. But the narrative is emotionally grounded in Anna's return to her family, as they come together to handle Graham's troubles as a werewolf, with his changes becoming increasingly uncontrollable and potentially violent -- and have recently resulted in tragedy. Anna is called in to help, and the heart of the film is the family discussion, revealing both the past sources of tension and the enduring affection and history between them all.

The performances all around are strong and specific, from the determinedly cheerful mother, played by Nicola Bryant, to the skeptical, tough Anna, played by actor Freya Parker. When Helen calls in a local vicar to help with a ritual intended to remedy Graham's condition, Anna has misgivings but has to return to her life in London. Torn between her family and her boundaries, she heads back to the family home, only to discover that things have gotten more out of control than she could have ever believed.

Cheeky, hilarious and oddly heartwarming, THE WILDS ends with an action-packed suspenseful sequence full of blood-soaked panache and outlandish transformations that should satisfy any horror fans. But emotionally, the fate of the Wilds will elicit a certain ironic chuckle, as well as a knowing recognition that sometimes dysfunction binds a family, for better or worse -- but working through it together may actually be more healing than thought.