‘Wildcat’ Documentary Shines A Compassionate Spotlight On The Struggles Veterans Face After Combat

There is a new documentary film highlighting stories of veterans on the Hollywood circuit right now. The title is Wildcat and it follows Harry Turner, a young British man and former soldier, as he strives to overcome his depression and discover his purpose while caring for wildlife animals in the Amazon jungle.

“I think the film itself shows very clearly my vulnerability is out there,” Turner, 29, tells me about his time filming in the Amazon. “Even though I’m in the most beautiful place to me in the world, this place can sometimes just kind of trap you. It’s kind of like I was the caged animal – trying to escape in my own mind.”

Wildcat showcases the unlikely bond between Turner and a baby ocelot, as the veteran devoted himself to preparing the small cat to become self-sufficient out in the wild, which in turn, has helped Turner prepare himself in returning to the real world, following the trauma he faced in Afghanistan while serving his country at the age of 18.

“In 2014, I actually went to the jungle to kill myself,” Turner reveals after being medically discharged for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I know that if I hadn’t gone to the jungle, my life would’ve been completely different because it only took me about 14 days to realize that I shouldn’t kill myself, I am worthy, I am here for a reason.”

Turner’s Wildcat first premiered at the Telluride Film Festival back in September and was screened with the Veterans in Media & Entertainment (VME) in Los Angeles this past October to a room filled with fellow service members, something Turner says made him very nervous.

“I’ve made this film and I’ve put myself out there but I don’t want to trigger anybody. I know that a lot of people who are going through depression or are struggling with stuff can sometimes be triggered, especially people who have served for their country or have done some heroic and some unpleasant things. I think trauma is a hard thing and for me personally, to show the VME in LA when I screened it was so nerve-wrecking, but at the same time, I had such positive feedback from every single person. It was so beautiful for people to come up to me and say ‘I know what you’re going through. I relate and thank you for being so vulnerable and so open on-screen.’ I just think this film is the first stepping stones to getting more people to talk about their mental health.”

VME is a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization for current and former members of the military working in the entertainment industry, providing employment, speaking engagements with top Hollywood executives and networking opportunities like at the recent Wildcat screening. Karen Kraft, Volunteer Executive Member on the board at VME and a U.S. Army Reserve veteran, spoke briefly with me about the impact Turner’s compassionate story is having and will continue to have on others, not just veterans but people struggling from all walks of life.

“Our organization is focused on veterans who want careers in the business, the media and entertainment business,” Kraft continues. “When we see another veteran make a film, whether it’s about their personal journey or a fictional piece or a short, we’re excited. That’s what we want to see – veterans being seen, not as a stereotype but understand how diverse we are in our experiences. So many vets who are struggling with such issues or have gone through a lot of trauma often find the most successful path to healing is by setting up these opportunities to help others. They’re built for service in giving to the community.”

Today, Turner is taking his appreciation for the jungle and the healing benefits its surroundings can have on one’s mental health by starting his own non-profit called Emerald Arch.

“It’s a U.S.-based non-profit – not just to protect and to save the lives of the jungle and help the communities around, but it’s to also bring people who are struggling to the jungle,” says Turner, who is the President and Co-Founder of Emerald Arch. “We want to set up a veteran retreat and mental health retreat where people who are struggling – they don’t really know their way, they can’t really find their footing, they can come to the jungle as more of a reset button.”

As Turner now looks ahead to the widespread release of the Wildcat documentary, first in select theaters starting December 21 followed by its video streaming premiere December 30 on Prime Video, I concluded our conversation together by asking him what message he might have for his fellow veterans all across the world, who are struggling right now to move forward and have yet to find their productive purpose since leaving the service.

Turner responds, “That’s a good question. What I would really hope comes from this film and also just to anybody who has served and anybody who is also struggling, is that sometimes you have to go through the darkest parts of your life to get to the brightest parts of your future. Just because you’re in a dark place now or in a hole at the minute doesn’t mean it’s the end. I know 22 veterans a day in the U.S. alone commit suicide and I just hope that if anybody hears this, they know that they can reach out and they know they can have support by the people around them. They’re not alone.”