The Call of the Wild movie (2020) is an adaptation of Jack London's classic novel, telling the story of a St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix named Buck during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s.
Summary:
Buck lives a pampered life in sunny California until he is suddenly stolen and shipped to the harsh Yukon to become a sled dog. He endures brutal treatment and learns the "law of club and fang" to survive. Sold to French-Canadian mail carriers, Perrault and Francoise, Buck becomes part of a sled team and develops a fierce rivalry with the lead dog, Spitz. Through strength and cunning, Buck eventually defeats Spitz and takes his place as the leader, proving to be an exceptional sled dog.
The mail route is later replaced, and Buck and his team are sold to a trio of inexperienced and cruel gold prospectors, Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. They overload the sled and mistreat the dogs, leading to exhaustion and starvation. John Thornton, a seasoned outdoorsman, encounters the struggling group and warns them against crossing thin ice. When Buck refuses to move, Thornton rescues him just before the ice breaks, tragically killing the prospectors and the remaining dogs.
Under Thornton's care, Buck recovers and forms a deep bond with his new owner. They journey into the wilderness, where Buck's primal instincts grow stronger. He has encounters with wolves, including a beautiful white wolf, and feels the "call of the wild." Their peaceful existence is shattered when a vengeful Hal tracks them down and kills Thornton. Enraged, Buck attacks and kills Hal. With his last human connection severed, Buck fully embraces his wild nature, joining the wolf pack and eventually becoming their leader. However, he returns to Thornton's last camp every year to mourn his beloved master.
Detailed Story:
The movie opens with Buck living a comfortable and carefree life as the beloved pet of Judge Miller in Santa Clara Valley, California. His idyllic existence is shattered when he is kidnapped by the gardener, Manuel, who sells him to obtain money for gambling debts. Buck is crated and transported north, enduring harsh treatment along the way. In Seattle, he is introduced to the brutal reality of his new life by a man in a red sweater who teaches him obedience through violence, establishing the "law of club and fang."
Buck is then sold to Perrault and Francoise, who use a dog sled team to deliver mail across the Yukon. He learns the demanding life of a sled dog, the importance of teamwork, and the harsh realities of survival in the cold wilderness. He faces the animosity of Spitz, the dominant lead dog, and their rivalry intensifies. Buck's intelligence and growing primal instincts allow him to challenge Spitz's authority, culminating in a fierce fight where Buck emerges victorious, becoming the new lead dog. Under Buck's leadership, the sled team achieves record travel times.
Their service with the mail carriers ends when the route is discontinued, and the dogs are sold to Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. These new owners are ill-prepared for the Yukon, overpacking their sled and mistreating the exhausted dogs. Their incompetence leads to the deaths of several dogs and their own demise when they ignore Thornton's warnings about the dangerous ice.
John Thornton finds Buck near death and nurses him back to health. A profound bond forms between the man and the dog, offering both a sense of companionship and purpose. They venture into the untouched wilderness, where Buck's connection to his ancestral past deepens. He experiences vivid visions of a black wolf, a symbol of his wild heritage. He also encounters a white wolf, sparking a natural attraction and further pulling him towards the wild.
Tragedy strikes when Hal, who survived the ice incident, relentlessly pursues Thornton, believing he has found a gold claim. Hal ambushes and kills Thornton. Buck's grief and rage unleash his primal fury as he attacks and kills Hal, avenging his beloved owner.
With Thornton gone, Buck fully answers the "call of the wild." He leaves the remnants of his domesticated life behind and joins the wolf pack he had encountered. His strength and intelligence allow him to rise as their leader. The local Native American tribe, the Yeehats, come to know him as the "Ghost Dog," a legendary figure of the wilderness. Despite his transformation, Buck retains a deep loyalty to Thornton, returning to the site of his death each year to mourn before disappearing back into the wild, a true embodiment of the call of the wild.
