Review: Refreshing, Respectful 'Wildlike' Starring Bruce Greenwood, Ella Purnell, And Brian Geraghty

“Wildlike” presents a levelheaded, humble, and respectful drama about a controversial subject, wrapped around a road movie that takes full advantage of breathtaking Alaskan wilderness scenery. Even though the story focuses on a teen running away from sexual abuse by a family member, an issue that’s ripe for dramatic sensationalism, it never sinks into excessive melodrama, only to end with unearned pathos to please the general audience with a saccharine emotional release.

Writer/director Frank Hall Green shows a considerable amount of restraint and a deft handle on tone for a first feature. He doesn’t really say anything new about the tricky subject he delves into, and doesn’t really show anything new concerning the Alaskan wilderness that films like “Into The Wild” didn’t already cover, but he manages to construct a solid drama that earns every bit of its handful of emotional payoffs.

To be honest, the premise sounds like a blend of a Lifetime movie and a run of the...