Ant Timpson’s adventurous family tale premiered at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival and makes a thoroughly unique addition to FrightFest, seamlessly blending traditional adventure with a fairy-tale-like story, split into a series of distinct chapters. Bookworm will be available on Digital Platforms on 11 November.
There’s a local legend in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, similar to Bigfoot on the west coast of North America, that sparks the interest of local legend and mystery lovers: the Canterbury Panther. This reclusive beast has never been documented as it stalks its prey across the snow-topped mountains, grassy plains, and crystal-clear lakes. And a $50,000 reward is available for any picture or video that proves its existence.
For one eleven-year-old nature-loving bookworm, Mildred (Nell Fisher), that $50,000 reward could save her and her mum from the debt piling up around their ears. Mildred has been studying the Canterbury Panther for years, designing traps, reading about survival techniques and planning the camping trip that will bring the $50,000 prize home in meticulous detail. But there’s one problem: Mildred’s mum isn’t a fan of adventure and certainly isn’t up for a trip into the mountains with only a map, tinned food and a tent. As for Mildred’s dad, he is thousands of miles away in North America, and she has never even met him, let alone got to know him. But Mildred’s life is about to take an unexpected detour.
When Mildred’s mum ends up in hospital after a freak and deadly toaster accident, her down-on-his-luck illusionist dad, Strawn (Elijah Wood), flies halfway across the world to care for her. But on his arrival, Mildred is less than impressed by Strawn, who appears at the door wearing a ridiculous hat, a black leather jacket that wouldn’t look out of place in an ’80s David Copperfield special, and black nail varnish.
Strawn is jittery, unconfident, and unsure of how to interact with his spikey, intelligent daughter, and immediately makes the mistake of trying to woo her with his magic, only to discover that Mildred has no time for his tricks. Mildred just wants to get out into the great New Zealand wilderness and hunt the elusive Canterbury Panther. Eager to please his biological child, Strawn agrees to take her camping, not knowing the adventures, dangers, mishaps and bonding that are about to ensue.
Ant Timpson’s adventurous family tale premiered at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival and makes a thoroughly unique addition to FrightFest, seamlessly blending traditional adventure with a fairy-tale-like story, split into a series of distinct chapters.
As Mildred and Strawn trek through the stunning mountainous wilderness of Canterbury, there are nods to Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) and William Dear’s underrated Wild America (1997). But stylistically, Bookworm is very much Ant Timpson’s creation, as sharp wit, fairytale-like wonder, and comically driven action set pieces light up our screens through the delightful central performances of Nell Fisher and Elijah Wood.
While the hunt for the elusive Canterbury Panther takes centre stage, Bookworm is about reconnection, healing, and forgiveness —a gentle tale of an absent father finding a new sense of adventure through his daughter. It’s the kind of movie that feels all too rare in modern cinema but would have made a killing at the box office during the heady days of family-oriented comedy-adventure in the ’90s.
There are brief moments when the pacing of Bookworm stumbles slightly, and the narrative risks losing some younger audience members. But even in these rare moments, the jaw-dropping beauty of New Zealand’s mountainous regions keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Bookworm is a very different beast from Timpson’s Come to Daddy, and its family roots may throw those expecting another comedy/horror gorefest. But no matter your initial expectations of Timpson’s beautifully nuanced family adventure, it would take someone with a heart of stone not to be moved by this delicate tale of reconnection, healing, and new beginnings. Fun, fantastic and full of heart, Bookworm is an adventurous, warm, wild and witty delight.
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