Those expecting a family friendly adaptation of the very, very famous children's book are in for a shock; Spike Jonze' filmic version of Maurice Sendak's seminal work is downright terrifying in places. And it's hard to imagine that any kid will find refuge in the strange, anxiety-clad tone of the movie, whether they're familiar with the source material or not. That said, Jonze has taken Where The Wild Things Are and made it his own, and in the process has successfully crafted one of the most unique, curious and compelling fantasy movies of the last decade. The vibe here is one of complete and utter ennui, as Max - the young hero of the story - imagines himself away to a far off land filled with large, monstrous creatures of various temperaments, who declare him their king on arrival. As Max struggles to rule over the land of the Wild Things, events take a dark turn, and Jonze uses the source material as a mere kicking off point to explore themes that weren't inherent to the original tale, including alienation, depression and loneliness. A sad and beautiful movie, ultimately; the visuals and effects are stunning.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
