Movie Review: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy’s illustrated storybook The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse instantly won me over with it’s sketchbook-style drawings and sweet, simple story, all of which have been captured perfectly in this short film for Apple. Adapted by Jon Croker and co-directed by Peter Baynton and Mackesy himself, the artwork has been cleaned up but still retains the hand-crafted charm of the book, while also maintaining the text’s quiet poignancy.

We first meet The Boy (Jude Coward Nicoll) who is lost in a snow-covered countryside where he encounters a cake-loving Mole (Tom Hollander). The Mole offers to help him find “home” and so they set off. On the way, they also wind up adding The Fox (Idris Elba) and The Horse (Gabriel Byrne) to their party, with each quickly growing close to each other and having surprisingly deep philosophical discussions about fear, loneliness, self-doubt, friendship, family, and more. Some of the dialog can border on being cheap platitudes, but the perfect voice casting, lovely drawings, and perfectly suited score by Isobel Waller-Bridge mean it’s always presented in a way that makes it hit home more than it otherwise might have. Much like our time on Earth, this charming little film feels like it goes by all too quickly, but I doubt many will be able to watch it without feeling a renewed sense of appreciation for the time we do get and all of those we choose to spend it with. ★★★★★