Wander

Among the many films discovered at the Deauville American Film Festival, Wander resembles an incomprehensible paranoid thriller that will remind some people of the cult X-Files series in which the theory of a large-scale conspiracy and the use of new technologies tested on humans is central to the story. Yet, despite a script with too many twists and turns and its fast-paced cinematographic cut-scene, Wander manages to hold his breath throughout despite a voiceover that quickly becomes exhausting and surprising angles of view.

Formerly a well-known and well-liked police officer, Arthur Bretnik (Aaron Eckhart) holds a podcast with his friend Jimmy Cleats (Tommy Lee Jones) and has turned private detective. In the middle of the American desert, he lives far from the population and under the influence of repeated migraines is mentally unstable. After being hired to investigate a suspicious death in the small town of Wander, he is convinced that this case is linked to the same conspiracy cover-up that caused the death of his child. His investigation will not only put him in danger but will also make him realize that appearances are often deceiving.

Wander had strong arguments for finding his audience, starting with his casting and location in the United States in the desert West. With his Seven looks by the presence of a psychopathic killer. However, it must be acknowledged that the plot is trampling dryly and script misunderstandings are multiplying. Clearly more at ease filming action scenes and enhancing natural settings, director April Mullen seems to be struggling to find a way to make his story come true.

After many unnoticed movies and episodes from series such as Killjoys, Wynonna Earp, Lethal Weapon, The rookie, DC Legends of tomorrow and The 100, director April Mullen is now back with her writer Tim Doiron to deliver a plot that is certainly incoherent, with fleas implanted in humans and many dead people. Wander easily resembles an amphetamine-fueled thriller, very well done, but the plot and the many twists and turns seem as surprising as they are incongruous.

In the same way, despite an interesting cast with Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnickn Heather Graham, Tommy Lee Jones, Wander doesn't manage to completely hold our attention. Add to that his late night programming schedule and you get a UFO movie with the only real question being how famous actors like Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones could find themselves in such a movie.

Wander
Directed by April Mullen
Produced by Jason Allison, Mary Aloe, Mary Aloe, Tim Doiron, Douglas Falconer, April Mullen, Andre Relis, Chad A. Verdi, James van der Woerd
Written by Tim Doiron
Starring Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnickn Heather Graham, Tommy Lee Jones
Cinematography Russ De Jong
Edited by Luke Higginson
Music by Alexandra MacKenzie
Production companies: Wango Films, Verdi Productions, VMI Worldwide, Aloe Entertainment, Falconer Pictures
Distributed by Saban Films (USA)
Release date: September 11, 2020 (Deauville)
Running time : 94mns

Seen on September 11, 2020 at the Centre International de Deauville

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