Wildlike

Mackenzie – a doe-eyed 14-year-old with tousled hair, torn clothes, and too much black eyeliner – is sent to live with her thirty-something uncle in Juneau, Alaska. Surrounded by vast forests, picturesque mountains, and spectacular waters, Juneau might provide an ideal retreat for this troubled teen, coping with the recent death of her father and current absence of her mother. Still, something is just not right about her awkward uncle: he showers her with a few too many gifts and comments far too often on how “adult” she looks. When living with her uncle becomes unbearable, Mackenzie makes a hasty getaway. But, in a city unreachable by road, finding an escape route to her hometown of Seattle is nearly impossible. Mackenzie must rely upon the help of reluctant strangers for any chance at survival, including a lonesome and crotchety hiker who is suffering from his own demons. Frank Hall Green’s suspenseful drama WILDLIKE features compelling performances set against the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness. – E.B.