Directed by Timothy Hines (10 Days in a Madhouse, Tomorrow’s Today), The Wilde Girls is a 2025 period adventure drama that stars Cali Scolari, Lydia Pearl Pentz and Teddy Smith.
The Wilde Girls is a story of Tinsley and Mattie Wilde, two spoiled socialites who have lived extremely pompous lives. When the Great Depression suddenly arrives and the Wilde family loses its entire fortune, Tinsley and Mattie find themselves cut off from the family fortune and stranded in the forests of Oregon. Finding themselves to be without help for the first time in their lives, the girls only make things worse for themselves. Their only hope is a mysterious mountain man who has no patience for their high society antics. Can these clueless heiresses come out on top or will their mistakes lead them into complete and utter disaster?
The Wilde Girls is funny, adventurous and surprisingly poignant, all rolled into one. Timothy Hines approaches the story in a way that does not detract from the innocence of it all as he sets about to create a unique film about losing privilege and finding oneself at the lowest point in life. For a film set in the 1930s, there is a surprising amount of wit and sarcasm here but it does not detract from the overall tone of the story at all.
Another great thing about the film is that the cast manages to surprise with its performances. Cali Scolari, daughter of Emmy Award-winner Peter Scolari & Broadway star Cathy Trien, plays Tinsley in her feature film debut and manages to make a lasting impression. Equally awesome is rising indie star Lydia Pearl Pentz as Mattie. Together, the two are a dynamite, with impeccable comedic timing amidst their shenanigans. Rounding out the main cast is stand up comedy sensation Teddy Smith as the mountain man. The cast does a terrific job with what they are given and they manage to elevate the script by infusing their characters with as much earnestness as possible.
From costumes to set design, the production looks highly polished in all its aspects. With a seemingly mid-sized budget, it is fascinating to see how the production team managed to make the film look so incredibly good. There is a fair bit of green screen in there but quite a few moments are captured in what feel like real forests as well. All in all, Timothy Hines makes the whole adventure believable and the cast performances manage to sell it perfectly.
Visually speaking, the film bursts out of its own shell. The cinematography is crisp and the greenish grainy filter over everything gives the film a distinctly unique look. The cinematographer has done a fantastic job ensuring that we, the audience, are swiftly transported to the 1930s. The cinematography has a specific purpose here; the camera angles, the color grading and camera motion all work together to convey to us the adventure of two girls trying to make it in the woods. The sheer variety of shots and the vibrant color depict both the Disney like nature of the story as well as the fantastical experience that the two girls have deep in the untamed forests of pre World War America.
Another aspect that is frequently overlooked by reviewers is the sound design. The music works really well. The score elevates the entire film, conveying feelings and emotions that cannot be expressed through the visual medium alone.
Opening May 30th in Los Angeles, The Wilde Girls is a damn good time. From its likable protagonists to the twists and turns in the adventure in the dense forests of Oregan, the film takes us on a memorable journey. Timothy Hines manages to make a great film, one that works on multiple levels.
