Wolves

Werewolves have been a horror cinema staple since Lon Chaney Jr.'s The Wolf Man (1941). In this new creature feature, teenager Cayden Richards (Lucas Till) awakens from a nightmare, only to realize that the sex, rage, and violence of his ferocious fantasy have become reality. Panicking, Cayden flees, desperate to learn more about his lycanthropic affliction, especially when he discovers that he was adopted. After meeting a fellow werewolf named Wild Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson) at a biker's bar, Cayden winds up in Lupine Ridge, a strange isolated community populated by two shape-shifting werewolf clans. Some are law-abiding citizens, while others live anarchically in the hills. Led by powerful, pureblood Connor Slaughter (Jason Momoa), the latter are ruthless killers. Peace-loving John Tollerman (Stephen McHattie) gives Cayden work on the family farm, but bartender Angelina (Merritt Patterson)—the pureblood female whom Connor has chosen to bear his child—warns Cayden, “You're too good to stay here.” And then, under a full moon on Halloween, Connor goes crazy. Unfortunately, the helming inexperience of first-time filmmaker David Hayter (a screenwriter who is also the iconic voice of Snake in the popular Metal Gear video game franchise) is evident here, while the performance by lead actor Till—utterly lacking in charisma—is best described as confused. Add the cascade of furry clichés strewn throughout the utterly predictable plot and it all ends up being a bloody, brutal bore. Not recommended. (S. Granger)