WILDCAT (2022)
A beautiful, troubling portrait of trauma, healing, and humanist hope.
Should You Watch It?
WILDCAT is a compelling documentary with impressive cinematography, phenomenal wildlife encounters, and a sensitive account of real people facing trauma. Its unusual rehabilitation program gives the story emotional weight, and its central relationship offers a moving picture of purpose returning after horror.
But this is not a family documentary. The film contains lots of strong foul language and troubling material involving depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Its deeper problem is spiritual: it presents nature, human connection, and therapeutic recovery as answers to needs that reach beyond the natural world.
The film has real artistic merit, but its mature content and worldview make it suitable only for adults. If that describes you, WILDCAT is worth seeing with discernment; otherwise, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBritish soldier Harry Turner is medically discharged after developing PTSD from serving in Afghanistan at 18. In the Peruvian Amazon, he meets Samantha Zwicker, a wildlife preservationist who directs Hoja Nueva, a compound protecting local flora and fauna.
Harry begins caring for a young ocelot being prepared for release into the wild. The work gives him an unlikely companion and a reason to keep going. Later, another baby ocelot joins the project, and Harry takes responsibility for helping it survive in the rainforest.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means WILDCAT is compelling and artistically accomplished, though imperfect. The cinematography is impressive and beautiful, while real-life encounters with sloths, snakes, caiman crocodiles, and other ocelots are phenomenal.
Harry Turner and Samantha Zwicker, playing themselves, are convincing and sympathetic. The documentary form is engaging and effective, giving the film realism as it follows real people through trauma, trials, and triumph.
The story is told well and sensitively, but the movie sometimes drags. Scenes involving Harry’s self-destructive habits could have used better editing. Even so, this is a strong, moving account of healing through a unique rehabilitation program.
The Worldview
WILDCAT assumes that deep physical and spiritual trauma can be healed through purely naturalistic means. Harry’s bond with an ocelot becomes a source of rescue, while Samantha describes his relationship with another ocelot as almost his redemption.
The film’s humanist, romantic, therapeutic worldview places hope in human beings, relationships, nature, and professional recovery. It leaves its protagonists in the hands of loving family and professional fame, but never addresses the spiritual longings of people made in the image of their Creator. The movie recognizes real suffering and the value of compassion, yet it treats human-centered healing as sufficient. That answer may comfort for a time, but it cannot bear the full weight of redemption.
The film’s longing is for healing after horror. Scripture offers a deeper hope: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong humanist, Romantic, therapeutic worldview in which man can save himself, set in a context of recovery from PTSD
Foul Language
36 “f” words, 11 scatological interjections, and three profanities (including Christ profanities)
Violence
Scenes of war in Afghanistan, a man loads and points a rifle several times and frequently carries and uses a machete on forest foliage, a man suffering depression says he kind of just wants to cut himself, cuts on his arm are shown later, and a woman says he does this to overcome a panic attack and depression, man talks about having tried to commit suicide in his bedroom, a woman calls a suicide prevention hotline on the man’s behalf when he begins cutting his wrists, an ocelot is killed by a shotgun trap, and shotgun fire is heard several times in the jungle
Sex
A shirtless man and clothed woman lie together on a bed and hug and kiss, but sex is not necessarily implied, a young man and woman bathe together, but it’s unclear whether they are naked or not, a shirtless man and a fully clothed woman lie in bed together
Nudity
Man is seen shirtless throughout the movie, and woman is seen in various forms of undress, mostly when swimming, but never to explicit nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Harry looks for healing after trauma. What kinds of help can God provide through people, professional care, and prayer?
Psalm 147:3 · Galatians 6:2The film places great hope in human relationships and the natural world. What good gifts can they offer, and why can they not replace God?
James 1:17 · Romans 1:25How should Christians respond when someone is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide?
Galatians 6:2 · 1 Thessalonians 5:14What does it mean to seek redemption from God rather than trying to save ourselves?
Ephesians 2:8–9 · Titus 3:5The Final Word
WILDCAT is beautiful, compelling, and emotionally serious. Its mature content and humanist answer to spiritual pain make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family-friendly alternative, see.
