Watch Kids' Reviews of
CURIOUS INCIDENT OF EVERETT WILDER, THE

What to know:
CURIOUS INCIDENT OF EVERETT WILDER, THE is in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - it may not be a regular, endorsed title
Recommended age 8-12
18 minutes
VIDEO
BEN TOBIN
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CURIOUS INCIDENT OF EVERETT WILDER, THE cover image
Kudos to creator, Ben Tobin, for a thoughtful and insightful short film that pays homage to a quirky story featuring a quirky character and his pursuit of the magical jackalope.

Narrated by Lucy Payworth (Vanessa Libby), as an adult, as she reminisces about her childhood friend Everett (Nathaniel Ruth) who has a birthday party where he invites his toys, but no people, but secretly wishes for friends. All the same, he has quite the magical party, including meeting a magical bunny with horns -- a jackalope, which he would like to catch for Lucy Payworth (Ripley Dresser).

This fantasy story takes place in the early 1950s, beginning in Everett's backyard with its wide expanse of lawn where the birthday party takes place and a wooded area behind it where the jackalope mysteriously escapes to. Then, we see him inside his hose and at Lucy's which are decorated in 1940 decor from the furniture to the curtains. Everett and Lucy have one thing in common, they have both seen the jackalope, and they both like to do the bunny hop! The costumes also are time compliant; my favorite being Everett's argyle sweater and bowtie. The background music is extraordinary; it is an original score by Andres Soto and well suited to each scene. The visual effects are used sparingly, but are strong. I.e. When Everett chases the jackalope into the woods and it disappears in a wispy cloud. The special effects at the end when Everett finds the jackalope again and it is the size of a moose are quite striking! The camera work and audio recording are well done; so is the editing. My favorite part is the ending when grown up Everett and Luc are dancing together in the old house. Again, the scene is accompanied with beautiful music. The film is dedicated to Robert Parati (1927-2017), whom we don't know anything about but presume he made a huge impact on Ben Tobin's life.

The film is about the magic in the world, which is sometimes just slightly out of reach, but you can grasp it if you keep at it.

I give The Curious Incident of Everett Wilder 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. By Evie K., and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!

Kudos to creator, Ben Tobin, for a thoughtful and insightful short film that pays homage to a quirky story featuring a quirky character and his pursuit of the magical jackalope.

Narrated by Lucy Payworth (Vanessa Libby), as an adult, as she reminisces about her childhood friend Everett (Nathaniel Ruth) who has a birthday party where he invites his toys, but no people, but secretly wishes for friends. All the same, he has quite the magical party, including meeting a magical bunny with horns -- a jackalope, which he would like to catch for Lucy Payworth (Ripley Dresser).

This fantasy story takes place in the early 1950s, beginning in Everett's backyard with its wide expanse of lawn where the birthday party takes place and a wooded area behind it where the jackalope mysteriously escapes to. Then, we see him inside his hose and at Lucy's which are decorated in 1940 decor from the furniture to the curtains. Everett and Lucy have one thing in common, they have both seen the jackalope, and they both like to do the bunny hop! The costumes also are time compliant; my favorite being Everett's argyle sweater and bowtie. The background music is extraordinary; it is an original score by Andres Soto and well suited to each scene. The visual effects are used sparingly, but are strong. I.e. When Everett chases the jackalope into the woods and it disappears in a wispy cloud. The special effects at the end when Everett finds the jackalope again and it is the size of a moose are quite striking! The camera work and audio recording are well done; so is the editing. My favorite part is the ending when grown up Everett and Luc are dancing together in the old house. Again, the scene is accompanied with beautiful music. The film is dedicated to Robert Parati (1927-2017), whom we don't know anything about but presume he made a huge impact on Ben Tobin's life.

The film is about the magic in the world, which is sometimes just slightly out of reach, but you can grasp it if you keep at it.

I give The Curious Incident of Everett Wilder 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. By Evie K., and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!

The story of a boy in 1952 who encounters a jackalope at his birthday party.
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