Logline

When her father's last will demands her to undertake a treasure hunt, recluse Kate must venture into the wild to save her home and unexpectedly finds her life changed forever by the strangers she meets along the way.

Synopsis

When her late father challenges her to a treasure hunt with her inheritance as the prize, Kate (Kate Frampton Davis), a reclusive young woman, must venture into the wild unknown to protect her solitary way of life. Ill-equipped for an outdoor adventure, Kate gets lost and joins forces with a pair of feral young men (Vincent Catalina and Jordan Laemmlen) she encounters in the wilderness. Together, the trio must travel far and wide, solving mysteries and hunting clues. When an overzealous government agent (Vince Major) finds out about their mission, Kate must not only try to save her home, but also protect her new friends.

Offering warmth, humor, and more than a touch of the wild side to a narrative about loss, Wild Boys is ultimately a story about unlikely friendships, working together, and overcoming fear. Set to a backdrop of the gorgeous Californian outdoors, and filmed just minutes from where many of the cast grew up, the film also aims to highlight the rugged and vibrant beauty that we can discover when we dare to step outside of our comfort zones.

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Director's statement

To contrast a world of division and conflict, Wild Boys aims to be a beacon of positivity. Our story is an exhilarating adventure, a thrilling treasure hunt, and, at its core, a tale of overcoming fear through friendship and teamwork.

I make movies that would get 12 year old Morten excited. This film was about reigniting the passion and excitement I felt when making my first films, playing Star Wars characters running around our neighborhood. It was about conquering the fear of feeling like an outcast and embracing my own weirdness. Through our protagonist, Kate, who has shut herself off from the world, and the Wild Boys, two loincloth-clad men living off the land, I wanted to explore the relationship between polar opposites. Although each character is strange in their own way, they listen and learn from each other, embracing their differences instead of resisting them, and thus find hope in their journey.

With Wild Boys, I aimed to capture the unique character of a one-street town and the vibrant beauty and ruggedness of the surrounding wilderness. I loved using the natural environment to create a vivid, expansive world for the film, particularly to express Kate's transformation from self-absorption to wonder.

Above all, Wild Boys is about the joy of being on a journey that you never want to end. While danger and conflict exist in the story, it ultimately celebrates unlikely friendships and the genuinely humorous moments that arise when vastly different people come together and work towards a common goal.

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About

Action comedy movie Wild Boys is the feature film debut for director Morten Forland. Produced by Forland, Steph Cheng, Joanna Fang and Vincent Catalina (who also stars), the film’s cast includes Kate Frampton Davis, Vince Major, Alyssa Padia, Patrick J. Andersen, Bill Hoversten, and Kaylie Gipson. The film’s composer is the award-winning Alexander Arntzen (Last Man Down, Unmothered). Wild Boys is an official selection of the 2023 Valley Film Festival . The movie is being distributed by Indie Rights.