With first-time director Paul Dano at the helm, Wildlife benefits from a stand-out performance from actress Carey Mulligan.

Based on the book of the same name, we view the events through the eyes of teenager Joe Brinson (Ed Oxenbould).  As his parents struggle financially, he decides to quit the football team to work for a photographer.  Having lost his job at the golf club, Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) runs out of town to fight fires in Montana.  This sudden decision isn’t sitting well with Jeanette (Carey Mulligan).   It’s not fair to Joe either but nobody was really hiring in their small Montana town.

With Jerry out of the fold, car dealership owner Warren Miller (Bill Camp) steps into the picture.  It goes without saying that you can probably guess what happens next.  After all, this is the 1960s and Jeanette takes control of her life.

While Paul Dano was no stranger to screenwriting, the actor takes a turn behind the camera for his feature directorial debut.  It’s a solid debut for the actor-screenwriter, who co-wrote the film with Zoe Kazan.  Actress Carey Mulligan delivers her best performance in years since being nominated for her role in An Education.

DIRECTOR:  Paul Dano
SCREENWRITERS:  Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan
CAST:  Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould, Bill Camp, and Jake Gyllenhaal

Wildlife held its Canadian premiere during the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival in the Special Presentations program. IFC Films will release the film in select theaters starting on October 19, 2018.