Movie review
December 11, 2020 · 97 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Wander Darkly follows new parents Adrienne and Matteo after a serious car accident puts them in a surreal state where they relive memories of their troubled relationship and past traumas. They argue over old wounds, face hard truths, and work through grief while trying to protect their young daughter and find a path forward. The story stays focused on personal loss, memory, and emotional healing between two flawed people.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Wander Darkly.
Woke representation / casting
Casting includes an interracial lead couple and some diverse supporting actors in a modern setting; ethnic background appears as natural background detail rather than emphasized identity signaling or quota-style focus in prominent roles or marketing.
Woke political dialogue
No explicit political talks, activist language, or ideological debates appear in the story; all conversations stay personal around relationship problems, past hurts, grief, and family.
Identity-driven story themes
The plot follows universal experiences of trauma, memory, loss, and a parent’s drive to keep living for a child; nothing centers race, gender identity, sexuality, or social justice as core drivers of character arcs or messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Relationship tensions and personal flaws are shown as individual drama without activist framing of patriarchy, toxic masculinity, traditional roles, or Western institutions as systemic problems.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. This is an original screenplay with no changes to established characters, source material, or historical figures.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No documented complaints or backlash treat the film as pushing woke, DEI, or identity politics content; reactions center on grief storytelling and acting instead.
Creator track record context
Writer-director Tara Miele shows repeated professional support for women in directing and anti-prejudice work; several producers have ties to women-in-film groups or statements favoring more female participation in Hollywood, indicating moderate inclusion focus rather than identity-driven or activist creative patterns.
