A Girl, A Stranger, and the Road: Wayward Redraws the Indie Map
Why Wayward Is the Independent Film You Won’t Shake Off Anytime Soon
By Oscar MurphyFrom buzzy festival premieres to Academy Awards recognition, female-led indie films are having a long-overdue moment—and Wayward is firmly at the center of that wave. The debut Hollywood feature from director Jacquelyn Frohlich, Wayward is a genre-blurring, emotionally charged standout that’s rewriting the rules of independent storytelling.
A Vision That Cuts Through the Noise
With Wayward, Frohlich arrives as a bold new voice in cinema—one unafraid to tell intimate stories with emotional weight and sharp edges. Rooted in her own multicultural upbringing—Frohlich was raised in Bogotá, Colombia by a family who fled Nazi Germany—her perspective is anything but conventional. Her film reimagines the traditional kidnapping narrative through the raw, unfiltered eyes of an 11-year-old girl. The result? A coming-of-age story that’s as gripping as it is grounded.“Childhood can be a treacherous time,” Frohlich says. “That reality is often avoided in films or over-sentimentalized. Wayward was a quest to make a film where the main voice, the one we hear above all others, captures the authenticity and point of view of a child.”
A Story That Transcends Genre
At its core, Wayward follows Cleo, a quiet but perceptive 11-year-old who embarks on a road journey that’s anything but predictable. While there’s suspense and tension throughout, the film refuses to follow the usual thriller beats. Instead, it lingers in the emotional gray areas—where fear mingles with longing, and connection emerges in unexpected places. The film’s psychological depth and refusal to tie everything in a bow make it not only refreshing, but quietly radical.Standout Performances, Front and Center
Chloe Guidry delivers a breakout performance as Cleo, capturing both the vulnerability and strength of a girl on the edge of something she can’t quite name. The cast around her is equally impressive. Indie favorite Jess Weixler (Teeth, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby) brings emotional weight to the role of Cleo’s mother, a woman whose life has long been shaped by the men around her. Jessica Sula (Split, Skins) and Will Brittain (Blow the Man Down, The Forever Purge) add further texture to the film’s emotional terrain.
A Quiet Revolution in Indie Filmmaking
Backed by powerhouse producer and actress Colleen Camp (Clue, Election, American Hustle), Wayward is more than a standout indie film—it’s a testament to what happens when filmmakers are trusted to take risks. “Jacquelyn Frohlich’s Wayward is a powerful example of why independent filmmaking matters,” says Camp. “It’s compelling and deeply personal. Supporting independent films and authentic storytelling is vital to the well-being and success of our industry.”In a time when originality is often sacrificed for spectacle, Wayward reminds us of the quiet power of perspective—especially when that perspective belongs to a child, a girl, and a filmmaker with something urgent to say. Wayward is now available to stream on Google Play, Amazon, and Apple TV.
