All the Wilderness

All the Wilderness

Year: 2015

Runtime: 85 min

Language: English

Director: Michael Johnson

Drama

Withdrawing from the world, James finds himself lost in a dreamlike realm of imagination and despair. A fragile connection with Val offers a glimmer of hope, but his resistance against his mother’s controlling nature pushes him deeper into an uncertain path. Within this mystical city, a cryptic guide appears, urging him to confront his inner demons and the harsh realities of his own struggles, ultimately forcing him to find his way.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – All the Wilderness (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of All the Wilderness (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film unfolds in a contemporary setting, resonating with themes of adolescence and the challenges of modern urban life. The narrative captures a phase in a young man's life where emotional struggles and social anxieties manifest amid the pressures of youth.

Location

City, Woods, Wilderness Area

The movie primarily takes place in an unidentified city, showcasing the urban landscape alongside moments of nature. The woods serve as a backdrop for James' contemplation and flashbacks, echoing his father's spoken memories of the wilderness. A wilderness area is also featured, representing escapism and the complexities of his relationships.

🏙️ City 🌲 Woods 🌄 Wilderness

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Main Characters – All the Wilderness (2015)

Meet the key characters of All the Wilderness (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

James

James is a troubled teenager grappling with the loss of his father, which affects his social interactions and outlook on life. He finds himself in a complex web of friendships, balancing fun with his struggles and the expectations of his prestigious school. His character represents the emotional turbulence of youth and the search for identity.

🧑‍🎤 Teen 😔 Grief 🤝 Friendship

Harmon

Harmon is a street musician who becomes a friend and ally to James. He embodies a free-spirited, adventurous nature, offering James a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Their friendship becomes a crucial escape from James' lonely reality, emphasizing the importance of connection during challenging times.

🎶 Musician 🕺 Free-spirited 🤗 Friendship

Val

Val is a cute girl that James meets, who initially stands out with her attitude. She represents a contrast to James' more serious demeanor and introduces an element of fun and flirtation to the narrative. Her interactions with James highlight themes of young love and personal values.

❤️ Love Interest 😏 Attitude 🍴 Food Truck

Crystal

Crystal is Harmon's friend, showcasing a complex understanding of her own identity and relationships. She brings a layer of depth to the narrative, allowing exploration of themes surrounding sexuality and friendship. Her dynamic nature adds richness to the group dynamics.

🌈 LGBTQ+ 👫 Friendship 🌿 Adventure

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Major Themes – All the Wilderness (2015)

Explore the central themes of All the Wilderness (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Loss

The theme of loss pervades the narrative, driven by James' recent experience of losing his father. This loss fuels his emotional turmoil and difficulty in forming connections, highlighting the impact of grief on personal development.

🌌 Friendship

Friendship acts as a vital connection for James, offering him solace and distraction from his internal struggles. His evolving relationships with characters like Harmon and Val illustrate the complexities and importance of social bonds during tumultuous times.

🌿 Escapism

The allure of escapism becomes evident through James' adventures in both the city and the wilderness. His exploration of music, drugs, and transient friendships highlights a desire to escape his reality and seek comfort away from familial expectations.

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about melancholic urban wanderers like All the Wilderness

Young characters journey through cityscapes to process grief and find themselves.For viewers who liked the introspective city journey in All the Wilderness, this collection features similar movies about young characters processing grief and finding themselves. Discover other films where protagonists wander through urban landscapes, connecting with unconventional friends to confront their inner turmoil.

melancholicintrospectivelonelydreamlikehopefulrebelliousurban

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a young, often grieving protagonist who feels disconnected from the world. Their journey is internal, mapped onto the external landscape of a city, where chance encounters and new friendships act as catalysts for slow, painful, and ultimately uncertain self-discovery.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a melancholic, introspective mood, a slow, contemplative pacing, and the use of the city as a character in a story of grief and coming of age. They offer a similar experience of quiet emotional weight and ambiguous hope.

Movies about unconventional found families like in All the Wilderness

Isolated characters build fragile new bonds to heal from personal pain.If you enjoyed the theme of found family in All the Wilderness, where James connects with Val and a cryptic guide, this list features similar stories. Explore movies about isolated characters forming fragile, healing bonds with unconventional friends to overcome grief and loss.

found familyhopefulgriefhealingunconventionallonelyrebellious

Narrative Summary

The plot follows a protagonist resisting formal help (like therapy or family) as they stumble into a connection with a misfit or group of outsiders. This found family doesn't provide easy answers but offers a mirror to their pain and a fragile sense of belonging, forcing them to confront their struggles in an unconventional way.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core narrative of healing through non-traditional relationships. They possess a bittersweet or ambiguous tone, balancing the weight of grief with moments of connection, and feature a moderate emotional weight that avoids being crushing while still dealing with serious themes.

Unlock the Full Story of All the Wilderness

Don't stop at just watching — explore All the Wilderness in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what All the Wilderness is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

All the Wilderness Summary

Read a complete plot summary of All the Wilderness, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

All the Wilderness Summary

All the Wilderness Timeline

Track the full timeline of All the Wilderness with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

All the Wilderness Timeline

All the Wilderness Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of All the Wilderness that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

All the Wilderness Spoiler-Free Summary

More About All the Wilderness

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about All the Wilderness: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About All the Wilderness

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