Wild Indian (2021) User Reviews

Undercooked

[PedroPires90 · 6/10 · 2 October 2021]

I usually dont complain a lot about endings. Good, bad, it's the writer's story and they have a reason for that. The ending here is ok and I would have accepted if we have had a bit more moments of tension, more dialogue, more development of his PTSD, more something. I felt everything undercooked. When it finished, I asked to myself: "Is that it?".

A shame because I was really liking the first two acts of the film until I realised that...it was already the end of the third one.

Sundance 2021: Wild Indian holds a compelling narrative but with an incredibly unlikable protagonist...

[msbreviews · 6/10 · 13 February 2021]

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Being this an Indigenous film and a feature directorial debut for Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr., I really didn't know what to expect. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it more than I anticipated. Wild Indian takes a tragic, dark moment in an early phase of two characters' lives and follows an unconventional path to demonstrate how surprising someone's future can be, especially considering the younger-self personality. Everyone changes parts of themselves throughout life, even more during childhood and teenage years.

Despite the overall slow pacing - slower than what I believe to be necessary - an efficient "twist" instantly raises the level of interest in the main narrative, which takes a while to overcome the fundamental yet formulaic character build-up. Then, Michael Greyeyes and Chaske Spencer bring their A-game, delivering engaging performances that kept me invested in the story. Greyeyes might portray the protagonist and have more screentime, but Spencer steals the spotlight with an emotionally devastating display.

A solid debut from a writer-director to put an eye on during the next year, but I can't escape my main issue with the central character. Even though I fully understand the commentary that Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. successfully transmits to the viewers about so many important matters, I couldn't connect with the protagonist, much on the contrary. It's a frustrating feeling to have, but I find Greyeyes' character extremely unlikeable not only due to his actions in the past but mainly his attitude in the present. In addition to this, Jesse Eisenberg's casting choice feels out-of-place and weird, to say the least.

Beautifully shot by Eli Born.

Wild Indian is a strong feature directorial debut from Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr., who I recommend following closely for the next few years. Boasting a compelling narrative, Michael Greyeyes and Chaske Spencer take the viewers through a dark, emotional journey of understanding that life isn't always fair and that making amends only works for people who can actually feel guilt or remorse. Both actors offer notable performances, but it's Spencer who really impacts me at an emotional level, elevating the only character I truly cared about. On the other hand, the protagonist is an incredibly unlikeable person who tries his hardest to forget the tragic past through deplorable actions. Jesse Eisenberg sadly sticks out like a sore thumb. The short runtime partially compensates for the slow pacing, but overall I still had a good time.

Rating: B-

The good, the bad and the ugly of escaping the Res

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 21 April 2022]

Abused Makwa grows up on a troubled Reservation in Wisconsin with his cousin Teddo in the 80s. Over three decades later they meet again and the contrast is glaring. Michael Greyeyes and Chaske Spencer head the cast while Jesse Eisenberg and Kate Bosworth have peripheral roles.

"Wild Indian" (2021) is a slow burn drama about modern AmerIndians and the challenges of life on a Reservation, plus the ins & outs of life beyond. It has the melancholy, mundane tone of "Leo" (2002), "The Woodsman" (2004) and "First Snow" (2006). Although it may not be on the level of "Woodsman," it's arguably superior to the other two.

Writer/director Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. Grew up on Reservations in Wisconsin & Minnesota so the movie obviously depicts things that he witnessed. He respects the intelligence of the viewer without spelling things out. It's a mixture of glaring clarity and vagueness that provokes you to reflect and put the pieces together.

What's going on with a certain character at the beach at the end? I'm part Abenaki and perfectly understand what was going on because I've done the same thing, but you don't have to be any particular race/tribe to relate.

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Oklahoma with bits done in SoCal.

GRADE: B.

Makes more sense after seeing one theory

[meghanndotta · 7/10 · 13 January 2023]

This is one of those films that can be both confusing and frustrating. Many will ask "why?" "What was the point?" I decided to delve into some internet articles about it and it seems to make a bit more sense when you believe that the bullet was actually poisoned. Teddo's behavior makes more sense. Leaving the gun on counter. Perhaps the pain of the past was too much for him. And he wanted to be put out of his misery. Fast forward to Makwa getting away with murder and coming home to his wife. The poison is why his arm looks so terrible and he goes to the beach looking ill and stumbling a bit. He's dying. And the connection to the starting story.....the native man with small pox. He tried to leave, so he wouldn't make his family sick. But when he comes home his wife is dying, and he did not get rid of his sickness. He died anyway and his sickness has infected his family. Makwa left the reservation and tried to make a new life. Even leaving the bullet casing in Wisconsin. But that sickness that was inside him never went away. And it will finally consume him. As it does at the end. Does it also bleed onto his family? Well yes, because now the wife has lost her husband and their two children will grow up without a father.

A lot of great potential

[zacharylivingood · 6/10 · 21 April 2021]

WILD INDIAN is a film about the different paths that arise for people after experiencing traumatic events in their childhood.

I really loved the concept, but ultimately I feel like it falls a bit flat. It starts very strong, but I think otherwise fails as a character study, and I didn't really feel anything for Makwa, any sort of relief or regret of what he did. He shows that of course, but again, did I feel it? Not really. Ted-o I think was a really interesting character that I wish we could have dived more into. I would have loved to see maybe more of his downfall.

The story references and tries to mirror the story of Cain and Abel, which I think is a really interesting way to take a story like this, and I like that side of the film a lot. It's just focused on so little unfortunately and is quickly forgotten, similar to the flashback images at the start and end of the film.

Overall, I think the cinematography by Eli Born is beautiful, as well as the dark brooding score by Gavin Brivik. There's so much here that you can like, but I think there's also reasons why not to.

But really I think the most distracting/disappointing part was Jesse Eisenberg. I love Jesse, don't get me wrong. I think he's great in everything I've seen him in. But the presence of him being in a total of like 3 minutes of the film, seems like a bit of a miscast.

The director and writer, Lyle Corbine, seems that he has a lot going for him and he should definitely have your sights on him for the future. Can't wait to see what else he's able to work on and accomplish!

Don't waste your time

[sumita_sinha · 1/10 · 13 November 2022]

I was curious to see this film and understand why this film would have a good rating on rotten tomatoes and poor one on IMDb. The storyline, supposedly based on childhood, cultural and colonial trauma, tries hard to convince you that because of all that, it is okay to murder two people, be unfaithful to your pregnant wife, abuse other women including an old woman on a sick bed in hospital- and even your own toddler. The lead actor, Michael Greyeyes' acting is wooden and he looks too old for his wife, played by Kate Bosworth. Jesse Eisenberg is hardly convincing as the boss. The music and scenes are contrived and ghastly. True to its name and following on the footsteps of Columbus, it even uses an Indian-American to play a Native American (of course, relies on the fact that people of US can't tell!). Truly ghastly movie- no idea why it has got an award. It is an insult to the First Nations people. If I could give it zero stars I would- don't waste your time on this!

Lesson- always go with the audience review!

Excellent Recipe, Excellent Ingredients, Mediocre Funding

[hilaryjrp · 3/10 · 25 November 2021]

I felt bad to rank this at a "three." The score is beautiful, cinematography expansive (for an independent film), and the story is solid. Two significant problems are the film's direction and more than anything its brevity.

At first, I thought the title character, Mak'wa/Michael, was poorly cast both as a child, and then as an adult. The vocal fry and staginess of both actors were incredibly disruptive. That this isn't a problem of either young or adult actor's abilities becomes clear in the few scenes where they're allowed to deviate from a breathy Clint Eastwood "make my day" voice.

Tedd-o, Mak'wa's friend, is infinitely more interesting. He speaks in a natural voice and is more interesting than Mak'wa because, as a minor character says, "So what" if he spent ten years in prison? He's a good guy. Beyond belief is that his climactic confrontation with a person from his and Mak'wa's mutual past begins--and then is totally elided. The climax of the film is edited out, and we skip to another major confrontation.

I realized before renting "Wild Indian" a film so brief would have difficulty developing a single character, let alone characters. But "Wild Indian" develops nothing. The majority of IMDB user revew criticism had to do with running-time. Considering Jesse Eisenberg's role as producer and Sundance's participation--and more than anything, considering the ways another half-hour could have turned this into a not-to-be-missed--I'm left with the perhaps unironic impression all Native American artists involved were cheated mightily.

"Wild Indian" is worth seeing. It would have been worth seeing even more if it had been funded to allow the running-time it deserved and Good versus Evil had been addressed. The overall impression of "Wild Indian" is that it fits the Short Film genre, and that's unforgivable.

Little engagement

[Gordon-11 · 26 January 2022]

"Wild Indian" may have an intriguing plot on paper, but unfortunately it does not deliver. There's little self introspection, and little emotional engagement throughout. The end result is bland and boring.

Fantastic slow burn

[taylorvan-00726 · 6/10 · 8 September 2021]

I really enjoyed this film but felt the trailers I'd seen were cut to make the movie seem different than it really was. Adding stars like Kate and Jesse but giving them a few minutes of screen time wasn't necessary for this film to still be a great slow burning drama.

What the hell was that

[Draysan-Jennings · 5/10 · 4 September 2021]

I really don't know what I just watched. And I have no idea what the point of this film was. If Jesse Eisenberg wasn't casted in this movie I never would of gave it a shot. Unfortunately he was hardly even in it. What a waste of time. It's a dismal story about an abused Native American kid who covers up a murder then grows up to be a stiff sociopathic weirdo. That's it. Nothing more nothing less. 5 stars.

Amazing

[derykronksolid · 9/10 · 24 November 2021]

I'm native and live in Oklahoma. So, no one can tell me if this is accurate, or tell me to quit saying "Indian", because that's some liberal white stuff. This movie has AMAZING acting, great direction, and though it's a little slow, I absolutely loved it. Veey accurate depiction of rez life.

Repressed Potential

[NinaCu · 4/10 · 26 September 2021]

The subject matter of this movie is EXTREMELY important. Unfortunately, this plays more like a fictional documentary by a dispassionate observer, moves extremely slow, lacks character development, and never provides access for the audience to feel what fundamentally motivates the characters.

In the hands of a nascent writer/director, the story was not fully and cogently developed. This is made even more dissapointing by the fact that the writer/director is the child of a psychologist -- and the essential psychological elements were repressed, undeveloped, and never explicitly expressed in the story. I can only imagine that this reflects the writer/director's own personal predicament in life -- unhealed.

Showing what happens is not nearly as engaging, emotive, and inspiring of compassion and empathy as exploring the fundamental reasons WHY it happens. Abstract causality merely conveys confusion on the part of the film maker -- perhaps reflecting his own unresolved confusion about life on the res.

Not a very good movie.

[burnor-1 · 2/10 · 5 September 2021]

I'm Baffled by the other reviews some are good some are bad but the stars ratings are in the middle of 5 & 6 no body rates it 10 and nobody rates it 1. Which seems to be in lots of reviews some people have different ideas. I gave it a 2 cause this had nothing much to it. It was a waste of money and time to see this, I wished I had not. One thing I guess, it reflects what our life is like here in the USA. Bad people usually make it through life unscathed, good people get eaten up by the world around. Its does show that. I guess I like the bad guy getting some just reward, in the movies. It makes living life easier. Why is it categorized as a Thriller, I waited and wait for something thrilling to happen some suspense. The music was suspenseful but nothing happened..that put me on edge. I waited and waited for something thrilling to happen. Plus the outside of native peoples homes were in bad shape but inside had low income furniture but even the drunken abbusive people has spotless homes inside.

Do not waste your time

[bubu8 · 4/10 · 13 September 2021]

Although it's only hour & half , you will end up feeling that it was a waste of time.

The first two thirds are not to bad actually , with a plot, & nice enough filmwork/acting. But the last third fizzled out to nonsense , with a poor ending.

Waste of time

[sammyjordaan · 2/10 · 6 September 2021]

Had high expectations but it was really a waste of time. The story is very slow.

Absolutely Amazing

[bruceharms · 9/10 · 2 December 2021]

You have to watch this movie with a mindset of all native american history. It's the story of survival, how one individual with a certain cultural heritage maneuvers through life as not only a victim of the system but also the broken home. Lines are drawn between human beings and ultimately what it means to survive. What does it mean to be indian? This movie paints a gritty picture that is both meaningful and interesting! One conversation in particular in this movie was breathtaking. Try and spot it.

Quite horrible, drawn out, lots of plot holes

[mdboze-999-352187 · 4/10 · 4 September 2021]

At first, we thought it had potential... but after the beginning... it just went on and on painfully.

Don't waste you time.

I wish I could get that time back.

Wanted to like it

[Sitting-duck · 4/10 · 8 September 2021]

Seemed like it had potential, but the story fell pretty flat. Ted-O was the best character, but barely developed.

Who Is This Movie For?

[stevendbeard · 5/10 · 5 September 2021]

I saw "Wild Indian", starring Michael Greyeyes-True Detective_tv, Fear the Walking Dead_tv; Chaske Spencer-Sneaky Pete_tv, the Twilight movies; Kate Bosworth-Superman Returns, Blue Crush and Jesse Eisenberg-the Zombieland movies, Batman v Superman:Dawn of Justice.

Sometimes, I wonder about who a movie is targeted to. This is one of those and the only conclusion I can come to is the native American Indians. Michael & Chaske are cousins-native American Indians-that grew up together. As kids, Michael is abused by his father and does something bad-murder-and together with Chaske, they cover it up. Michael grows up, marries Kate and becomes successful. Jesse is his boss. Chaske, however, gets into trouble and goes to prison-drugs-but when he gets out, he feels a load of guilt about the murder they covered up as kids and decides to confess. Michael doesn't want his present perfect life disrupted and decides he and Chaske should talk about it. The talk does not go well. I think the main problem is that the lead character-Michael-is not a redeemable person so you can't feel for him. You can understand why he acts that way but he just keeps doing bad stuff with no consequences.

It's not rated but it has language and violence and has a running time of 1 hour & 30 minutes.

It's not one that I would buy on DVD. I wouldn't rent it, either. If you want to see it, I'd wait until it comes to cable.

Films have to mean something

[bregund · 3/10 · 8 July 2023]

Characters have to grow and mature, compelling ideas have to be presented, villains and heroes need to fight, themes should be addressed. On top of all that, they have to be entertaining. As a native american I've never seen any truly good films or tv shows featuring native americans, as we always seem to be portrayed as victims or helpless, or magical, or, worse, patronized. The well-rounded native american character in films doesn't exist, and it doesn't exist in this film either. Makwa didn't grow or learn anything about himself or surprise the viewer, he's not identifiable in any way, and it's impossible to sympathize with him, especially at the exceptionally pointless ending. So many opportunities to explore a character who escaped an abusive childhood and made a success out of himself, all of them ignored in favor of a paint-by-numbers storyline. For example, his wife could have been a source of conflict, but she's largely a doormat. Boring film, don't watch.

Well Done Story for Native Viewers

[evelynrae · 8/10 · 26 April 2022]

I can see where non-native viewers may not understand the narrative. As an Indian I felt it on a cellular-level. After generations of trauma and violence to our people, one cannot escape the effects that are with you everyday. Of course each person is affected to varying degrees. I thought all the actors did a great job. Thanks to everyone who made this film possible. The history, stories and lives of native peoples need to be told. This is just one story. Looking forward to seeing more work from the writer/director.

Felt Incomplete

[westsideschl · 4/10 · 23 January 2022]

Scattered storyline and poorly explained backgrounds on our two teens. We see two these young Native friends shooting a rifle in the woods. One is troubled with a poor home life while his friend is fairly stable. The troubled one decides to shoot a classmate that they see walking alone in the woods. End of part one; we are left with a lot unexplained. Part two (the twist), the young shooter grows up to be financially successful while his stable friend now has a life of incarceration. Incomplete ending.

Brilliant Acting

[Lohena05 · 9/10 · 6 August 2022]

How do you portray generational trauma on the screen? Watch this movie and see Michael Greyeyes do this brilliantly. Has any actor attempted to do this let alone so masterfully? Difficult storyline but beautiful and much appreciated.

Every Second Gripping

[richardasmus · 10/10 · 1 May 2022]

In a superficial society that insists on dividing itself between black and white, what's between their legs and what they do with it, I can understand why so many people cannot see deeply beneath the surface of this film. In reality, we divide ourselves between those who fear the Natural World and try to conquer it and those who love the Natural World and strive to live in harmony with it. Our inane labeling system deftly skirts this issue. Although no one lives 100% on either side, some cross the line. "Wild Indian" tells the story of one who does, but with gut-wrenching emotional involvement. The many trans-cultural motivations, along with each actors dynamic interpretation of their character drive this film to perfection. The ending does not draw the movie out; Makwa must live with his guilt forever, with the most severe punishment being the inability to love and enjoy his own children.

Having been born in the superficial world but with Destiny frequently plunging me deeply into the Natural, I can see the profound conflict that this movie highlights. I have now lived at the center in a small town in the Amazon Jungle for 17 years. In a gathering a few years ago, a young man didn't believe there were oceans. We told him to Google "Pacific Ocean" on his phone. When images appeared, he said, "Nah, that's Photo Shop." I find that story interpretive. My friends in the north scoff and call it ignorance.

So with my experiences, I see "Wild Indian" much differently than most in my original culture. Watching this, I was gripped every second with empathy for the Apache, Navajo, Eskimo, Hawaiian, African and South American friends I have come to love.