Fantastic Fest Movie Review: Elijah Wood Connects with the ‘Bookworm’

What if you never met your father until he showed up after your mother fell into an accident-induced coma? That’s the situation faced by Mildred, played by Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise, Stranger Things), in Bookworm. Mildred, whose nerdiness inspires the title, not only tries to establish a relationship with her father, played by Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings), she also must deal with a mythological beast, kidnappers, and being lost in the New Zealand wilderness. Pretty challenging for a nerd.

Bookworm screened at Fantastic Fest 2024, the nation’s largest genre film festival. The 19th edition of the festival featured horror, sci-fi, fantasy, restored classics, and documentaries about these genres and their filmmakers and stars.

Meet the Bookworm

We meet Mildred in her book-filled bedroom as she tests a trap for the Canterbury Panther, a beast most people refuse to believe exists. We become aware of issues between her and her mother. Then, within a few minutes, her perfectly controlled smartest-kid-in-school life begins to fall apart.

After an accident that puts her mother into a coma, described by the doctor as “temporary,” her father arrives from America to provide support and protection. She tells him that her mother had promised to take her camping. He at first declines, informing Mildred that he has never been camping (nerd number two). She gets him to change his mind, and they head for the New Zealand outback. Two nerds in the wilderness: Let the adventure begin.

The Talent

Nell Fisher creates an absolutely unforgettable portrayal of Mildred. Her performance by itself makes the movie worth seeing. Only 11 years old, she projects a sophistication in both speech and attitude way beyond her years. The repartee between her and her father does two things. It makes us laugh and at the same time serves to enlighten us about how their relationship is progressing.

Elijah Wood plays Strawn Wise, Mildred’s father. He hides a damaged ego, having been a magician on the way up, hobnobbing with Las Vegas superstars, but now struggling to stay afloat. His delicate ego shows up when he repeats, “I’m not a magician, I’m an illusionist.”

Screenwriter Toby Harvard and director/screenwriter Ant Timpson certainly deserve some of the credit for bringing these empathetic characters to the screen.

Going Camping

As Mildred and her dad head out, things start out OK. Mildred’s objective was not only to go camping, but to get a picture of the Canterbury Panther. A picture of that beast would win her a reward which could pay off her mother’s medical bills.

Then little things go wrong. It’s funny at first. Even the fart joke. Then the problems become more and more serious. This puts strains on their relationship and ultimately their survival.

Bookworm manages to be funny, heartwarming, and scary. You’ll want to add it to your must-see list when it opens in theaters in mid-October. You can watch the trailer below.

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