The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wilderness (2025) Written Review

What can the wilderness do to a human being? Nature is such a gorgeous thing but also is capable of being incredibly dangerous depending on where this nature is. Being enveloped by this natural wonder can do great things for the human psyche. Unfortunately, being lost in the middle of nowhere can also push people to the brink of their own as well. This is a fine line between enlightenment and madness. A group of troubled teens is probably not the best group of people to test those waters with. But that does not stop a Wilderness Therapy program deep in the Utah desert. That is the plot of Spencer King’s new thriller The Wilderness. 

How does King approach capturing the beauty and danger of this situation? The visuals of the film are quite impactful and engrossing. Cinematographer Sean Mouton does a great job of capturing the beauty of the Utah landscape. The natural beauty of the setting gives the film something powerful which works in stark contrast to the more dangerous elements of the story. King can build up that sense of danger in both the human characters as well as the natural elements of the setting. This 105-minute film does feel like it lags at times with stretches of the film feeling a bit repetitive. But the overall atmosphere that King creates is quite poignant as it is rich in both emotion and tension. This film works so well as a thriller with the tensions slowly heightening while also delivering some powerful emotional beats as this group of teens navigate their trauma and tenuous situation. King’s refined approach elevates this experience well with such a moving and engrossing experience. 

Do the narrative elements of King’s film deliver on the same level as his efforts behind the camera? We have a group of young men who each fill specific elements and experiences which gives the film a variety of different experiences to explore. At the center, we have Hunter Doohan’s Ed who acts as the anchoring presence for the film. We see into Ed’s background and are treated to some moving elements and moments of his past that give the film a stark contrast to his current predicament. Those flashbacks might cut away from King’s sustained tension, but they do deliver a layer of emotion that gives this journey more depth. This film is one that does not shy away from challenging narrative elements, and this becomes abundantly clear as the third act takes some of these characters in some dark places. One of the strongest and most frustrating elements of The Wilderness is the bastard leader of this camp, Sam Jaeger’s James. This man is a terrible person, and the film does a great job of peeling back the layers on that, leading to some haunting revelations about this camp. This is a challenging exploration of trauma, redemption, and the power of nature.

Does the cast add important layers to the impact of this film? Doohan is a strong central performer in this film who gives the film the needed emotional core. The frustration that boils up inside of him feels so raw and authentic. The tumultuous, emotional state that he exists in feels so genuine and gives the film the needed depth to strike that audience’s empathy. The journey that Ed goes on is a complex and layered one and Doohan carries it on his soldiers. The other younger members of the cast do their part with some impressive emotion, empathy, and authenticity. Jaeger is a significant piece to this emotional puzzle as he delivers the tension and intensity which gives the film its conflict. Other veteran presences like Vinessa Shaw add some needed depth to this quiet, restrained, and harrowing experience. 

 Does The Wilderness offer up an engrossing and engaging cinematic experience? King draws upon personal experiences to bring a raw and authentic atmosphere for The Wilderness. The dup of Doohan and Jaeger add a lot to the emotional and dramatic aspects of this quiet thriller. The film looks gorgeous as well that gives the film a completely engrossing and harrowing experience. Dark twists and genuine tension make this experience so impactful.