The Wonder

Name: The Wonder
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: November 2, 2022
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Abigail Coburn, Brían F. O'Byrne, Carla Hurley O'Dwyer, Ciarán Hinds, Darcey Campion

2022

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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The Wonder

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: November 2, 2022 | Not Rated

Starring: Abigail Coburn, Brían F. O'Byrne, Carla Hurley O'Dwyer, Ciarán Hinds, Darcey Campion, David Wilmot, Dermot Crowley, Elaine Cassidy, Florence Pugh, Josie Walker, Juliette Hurley O'Dwyer, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Ruth Bradley, Toby Jones, Tom Burke

Movie Facts:

Streams on Netflix beginning November 16, 2022.

Summary: The Irish Midlands, 1862 - a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell. Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saintThe Irish Midlands, 1862 - a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell. Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saint 'surviving on manna from heaven' or are there more ominous motives at work?… Expand

Director: Sebastián Lelio

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

John Anderson

Nov 17, 2022

The performers—not just the miraculous Ms. Pugh but Ms. Cassidy; her mother, Elaine Cassidy (who plays Anna’s mother); and Tom Burke, as the journalist-love interest Will Byrne—give memorably complex portrayals in a tale where elements theological, maternal, political and pictorial are transformed alchemically into narrative gold. Read full review

The Guardian Benjamin Lee

Sep 15, 2022

A film about the danger of believing without questioning that turns us into full-throated believers in whatever Lelio and Pugh can do. Read full review

The Independent Clarisse Loughrey

Nov 17, 2022

Pugh is very much at home in this kind of role, but it’s no less arresting in its familiarity. Read full review

Richard Lawson

Nov 9, 2022

Lelio’s haughty piece of flair doesn’t diminish the impression made by Pugh, who fluidly projects compassion tinged with the faintest hint of menace. Read full review

Polygon Katie Rife

Nov 18, 2022

It’s true that Lib smashing against the brick wall of blind faith is an essential part of the story, but at some point, The Wonder crosses a line between eerie ambiguity and aimless floundering. Read full review

Collider Chase Hutchinson

Sep 15, 2022

It is by no means a perfectly constructed work, but there is something more immense in its thematic aspiration that provides plenty for Pugh to play around with. All that makes it unwieldy also makes The Wonder mesmerizing so that, even when the spell is broken, you can’t shake it from your mind. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Sep 3, 2022

An evenhanded but ultimately preposterous adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s novel, co-written by the author herself (with an assist from Alice Birch). Read full review

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User Reviews

alejandro970

Dec 3, 2022

The well-known duel between science and superstition is resolved correctly, avoiding any detail that seems malicious or stereotyped, which is appreciated, especially for the period atmosphere, and the performances.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

RatedRex

Dec 1, 2022

Fine acting. Good storytelling. But yet another tale with a bizarre subject matter. This is sort of an anti-religion film. It subtly tackles humans' need to believe in something, even if it's nonsensical.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

katezoe

Nov 17, 2022

Captivating film dealing with issues of faith and abuse. Florence Pugh does a magnificent acting job. One of the better films of 2022.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

bertobellamy

Nov 17, 2022

'The Wonder' plays like 'The Power of the Dog,' but what results is inferior. The conflict — between skepticism and blind faith — feels redundant, and the mystery never draws you in totally, unlike in Jane Campion's film, where ambiguity was everything. Still, Sebastian Lelio's new movie has'The Wonder' plays like 'The Power of the Dog,' but what results is inferior. The conflict — between skepticism and blind faith — feels redundant, and the mystery never draws you in totally, unlike in Jane Campion's film, where ambiguity was everything. Still, Sebastian Lelio's new movie has good acting — I was especially surprised by Kila Lord Cassidy's role —, astounding photography, and great production design. Just wished the story had the power to keep you wanting for more.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Brent_Marchant

Jan 6, 2023

Though atmospheric to a fault, writer-director Sebastián Lelio’s meditation on reason vs. spirituality/mysticism struggles to effectively capture the innate essence of this age-old debate, frequently leaving viewers “wondering” where this story is headed. Set in 1862 Ireland, the filmThough atmospheric to a fault, writer-director Sebastián Lelio’s meditation on reason vs. spirituality/mysticism struggles to effectively capture the innate essence of this age-old debate, frequently leaving viewers “wondering” where this story is headed. Set in 1862 Ireland, the film follows the experience of an English nurse (Florence Pugh) assigned to observe a spiritually oriented 11-year-old “miracle child” (Kíla Lord Cassidy) to determine how she has been able to survive in seemingly good health for months without eating, a claim that has made her the object of considerable public curiosity and scrutiny. The investigation subsequently raises numerous theoretical, philosophical and religious questions (many of which aren’t satisfactorily answered) while simultaneously revealing much about the past of both nurse and patient and documenting the inquisitiveness of the outside world as seen through the lens of a determined journalist (Tom Burke). However, the narrative underlying this ambitious undertaking doesn’t come across as being completely convincing; it often feels thin and underdeveloped, with an uneasy sense of its own inherent viability. That becomes especially apparent in several strange, out-of-place filmed segments and voiceover narrations in which the audience is being urged into believing in the merits of this story to the same degree as the performers who have signed on to appear in the movie (talk about a hard sell). Given the strength of Pugh’s fine performance and the picture’s excellent production values, it’s disappointing that the filmmaker seems so obviously unsure about what he has come up with in this picture, and, in light of Lelio’s track record with fine works like “A Fantastic Woman” (2017) and “Disobedience” (2017), I can’t help but “wonder” what drew the director to this somewhat flimsy material in the first place. Indeed, considering my interest in the subject matter, I probably cut this one more slack than I realistically should have, and my overall rating could be seen as generous. Here’s hoping better projects are in the works moving forward.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

royalguy07

Dec 8, 2022

Pretty well structured and managed throughout, Pugh was great as always. I do have to say whatever 4th wall stuff they were doing went completely over my head.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mabritec

Nov 19, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un titulo que busca destacar el fanatismo religioso, en una epoca donde la mujer como individuo de pocas libertades trata de resolver el paradigma que le presenta el consejo, la familia y la religion, pero sin llegar a destacar en ningun punto, es un titulo que no recomendaria, es aburrido predecible y monotono. NO LO RECOMIENDO 1HORA Y 49 MINUTOS PERDIDOS.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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