The Wonder

Grade: C-

The Wonder, a new Netflix Original film, begins with a shot of a film studio, and a few sets which will become some of the “locations” we end up seeing. A woman invites us to the movie, thanks us for seeing it, and the set of a ship becomes a real ship as we transition into the film proper in the same shot. The woman’s voice interjects in the middle of the film once, but other than that, we stay in the story until the end, when things bleed back into the studio. It’s a strange device that feels unnecessary.

The Wonder is based on a novel by Emma Donoghue, which takes us into the Irish Midlands of 1862. Anna O’Donnell is a pre-teen girl who stopped eating four months ago, though she remains alive and well, claiming that all she needs to subsist on is “manna from heaven.” Lib Wright, an English nurse (Florence Pugh) is brought to the village and hired to observe the girl for 8 hours a day, tag-teaming with a local nun who does the alternate 8 hour timeframe.

I don’t think I was 10% as enthralled and ensnared with the movie as it seemed to be with itself – or think we would be. Everything is played so dull and solemn. The characters are joyless, even when there is mirth to be had. You wouldn’t know the ending was a happy one from everyone’s perpetual American Gothic expressions on their faces. Florence Pugh, God bless her, is a trouper who does what she can, but this is otherwise an unenjoyable somber affair.

It’s possible that the intention was to take an avant-garde approach with The Wonder, but instead, it just comes off as deadly boring. Florence Pugh is officially one of my favorite actresses, and I, unfortunately, would see her in anything. The things we do for the artists we’re fans of. Have you ever hated your favorite band’s new album?

Grade: C-