Willy’s Wonderland is everything that I expected it to be, and so much more. An action packed, insanely fun flick that is sure to be the next cult classic.
When I first saw the trailer for Willy’s Wonderland I knew it was going to be a crazy movie — but I had no idea just how much I was going to love it. This movie completely blew me away. Sure, it is predictable, but what horror type movie isn’t? Nicolas Cage does what he does best in Willy’s Wonderland — he kicks some serious butt!
At the start of this movie Nicolas Cage’s character, who is just called “the janitor” runs over a spike strip causing him to be stranded. Along comes a tow truck driver who offers to help him out and give him a ride into town. Unfortunately for him, they only take cash. However he is offered to work it off in exchange for the repairs, by cleaning up Willy’s Wonderland. But when the owner locks him in and walks away saying he can’t stand to hear a grown man scream, it is obvious that something is up.
What comes next is a whole lot of INSANE and CRAZY as Nicolas Cage kicks some serious animatronics butt. Turns out there is something going on besides birthday parties at this place, but the janitor just wants to fulfill his end of the deal.
What Works With Willy’s Wonderland
Two words. Nicolas Cage. Without him as the lead I don’t know that Willy’s Wonderland would have worked as well as it did. He is the perfect casting for the choice and the fact that his character literally does not say one word in the entire movie, yet is the best part of it, says a whole lot.
As an action fan, I was really happy with the action and “gore” in this movie. I put gore in quotes because there is a lot more oil spilled than blood, although (spoiler) there is some blood shed too. The fight scenes are crazy, amazing, and insane. And I’ll never listen to head shoulders knees and toes the same again.
The lens flares, the music choices, and the jump scares really helped to increase the suspenseful moments. Animatronics have always creeped me out and after this movie, there is no way I am taking my kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s again. Sorry kids.
What Doesn’t Work With Willy’s Wonderland
There were a couple of times that the cinematography did some weird things, like camera shaking and strobe lights, but I can forgive that. I am sure there was good reasoning behind it like trying to amp up a moment and make it more tense. There was one with the strobing that went a tad too long for my liking, but that is just me being nitpicky.
Willy’s Wonderland is a bit predictable, although I didn’t see part of the very ending coming at all. Within the first twenty minutes I had figured most of the movie out, especially because of the trailer, but that didn’t make it any less fun of a journey to go on.
The story itself leaves a bit to be desired and honestly, there were a few predictions I had that I do with HAD happened. Some moments never get explained but at the same time, I am not mad it, because this movie was exactly what I had expected. It never takes itself seriously, and I have to appreciate that.
Overall Thoughts
Willy’s Wonderland is an action packed, horror type movie, that is sure to be the next cult classic. This movie works because of the casting of Nicolas Cage, and because of just how insane it is.
Is it perfect? Definitely not. But it is such a fun and wild ride that I don’t think anyone will care. It is all about the journey man, and Willy’s Wonderland certainly delivers an entertaining one.
If you don’t go into this movie expecting a well thought out plot with story lines that will fulfill every burning question you have, you will be fine. Just enjoy it for exactly what it is — a crazy story about a guy that fights possessed murderous animatronics. Willy’s Wonderland doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you.
Be sure to check out the best Willy’s Wonderland quotes!
About Willy’s Wonderland
When his car breaks down, a quiet loner agrees to clean an abandoned family fun center in exchange for repairs. He soon finds himself waging war against possessed animatronic mascots while trapped inside Willy’s Wonderland.
Willy’s Wonderland is available in theaters and on demand February 12th
and Blu-ray April 13th!
