Wonderwell
Directed byVlad Marsavin
Written byWilliam Brookfield
Based onDrainhole Dreaming by William Brookfield
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKenji Katori
Edited byEmma E. Hickox
Music by
Production
company
Strange Quark Films
Distributed by
Release date
  • June 23, 2023 (2023-06-23)
Running time
96 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Italy
LanguageEnglish

Wonderwell is an 2023 Italian-American fantasy movie directed by Vlad Marsavin, produced by Fred Roos, and based on the short story Drainhole Dreaming by William Brookfield. The movie stars Carrie Fisher (in her final film role before her death in 2016), Rita Ora, Kiera Milward, and Nell Tiger Free.

Synopsis

At 12 years old, Violet (Kiera Milward) lives in Italy with her parents (Lloyd Owen and Megan Dodds), and her beautiful older sister Savannah (Nell Tiger Free). When Savannah is selected to be the face of world- renowned designer Yana’s (Rita Ora) fashion label, the family travels to an enchanting medieval village for her first photo shoot. Neglected and bored, Violet wanders from the ancient Tuscan town into a nearby forest where she meets the enigmatic Hazel (Carrie Fisher), who may be the fabled witch of the woods Violet was warned about by Yana’s beleaguered stepson, Daniele (Sebastian Croft). Guided by Hazel to a mysterious portal, Violet is offered a glimpse of what her future might hold, but like the transition from childhood to womanhood, it may be a journey of no return.

Cast

Production

Principal photography took place in Tuscany and in Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy between October 2016 and February 2017. Serval scenes of the movie were shot in ancient Etruscan towns San Gimigniano and Volterra. Veteran producer Fred Roos, known for his lifelong collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, brought Fisher and Ora, and a number of the key creative team to the project. Carrie Fisher, who passed away in late 2016,[1][2] just six weeks after wrapping her scenes, leads the cast alongside British singer and actress Rita Ora,[3] and newcomer Kiera Milward.[4]

The film’s music score was created by William Ross and it was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The late Angelo Badalamenti, known for his collaborations with David Lynch on projects including Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, composed the film's "Violet’s Theme". One of the film central characters, The Creature, was inspired by Cel, the Etruscan goddess of the Mother Earth and designed by the film art director Daniele Auber, known for his works for Terry Gilliam and Luc Besson.

Due to interruptions with film funding, post-production was extended until early 2020, and then, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, all work on the almost finished film was suspended for several months.

Release

On June 14, 2023, Deadline Hollywood published an announcement of the movie's release, and on June 16, 2023 it published the official theatrical poster and the first official trailer of the film. The picture had a limited theatrical release in the U.S. through Vertical Entertainment  and also appeared on major online platforms in the USA, UK, Canada, and Ireland on June 23, 2023.

Wonderwell released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and in the Benelux countries on November 24, 2023

External videos
YouTube logo
Official movie trailer
video icon WONDERWELL Trailer (2023)

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.3/10.[5]

The release of the last Carrie Fisher movie was welcomed with enthusiasm by her fans and by fans of the fantasy genre.[6]

Benjamin Lee of The Guardian rated the film 1 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a rather limp, confusing little fantasy that could have been left gathering even more dust on the shelf without anyone needing to know".[7]

Independent blogger Mike Haberfelner called Wonderwell "a visually stunning film, full of impressive set designs", "a mix of coming-of-age story, dark fairy tale and thriller, in which well fleshed-out characters are embodied by a relatable ensemble cast, making this a pretty cool and pretty unusual ride."[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Carrie Fisher's 'magical' final film gets release date 7 years after death". 2023-06-14. Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  2. ↑ "Carrie Fisher's last movie, 'Wonderwell,' finally has a release date — and it's coming soon". Los Angeles Times. 2023-06-16. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  3. ↑ "Rita Ora on Acting with the Late Carrie Fisher in Her Final Film: I'll 'Cherish the Experience Forever' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  4. ↑ "Wonderwell star Kiera Milward - Exclusive Interview". Flickering Myth. 2023-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Wonderwell". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Carrie Fisher's Last Film 'Wonderwell' Is Finally Getting Released After A "Perilous" Seven-Year Journey; Rita Ora Co-Stars In Fantasy Movie Produced By Francis Ford Coppola Collaborator Fred Roos". Deadline. 2023-06-14. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  7. ↑ Lee, Benjamin (23 June 2023). "Wonderwell review – Carrie Fisher's final film is an ill-fitting tribute". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ "Wonderwell review". searchmytrash.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
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