Film Review: No Supernatural Slam Dunks in Teen Horror ‘Wolves’

Submitted by NickHC on November 13, 2014 - 2:47pm

CHICAGO – For the pack of horror fans who mourn the “PG-13” toothlessness of the teen wolf, the limited-release film “Wolves” tries to reclaim the character with slow-mo, WWE-with-claws fight scenes and some sprinkles of brief softcore wolf porn. If that’s all one could ask for from a werewolf movie, you probably can’t be blocked from giving this one a curious look; however if you’re trepidatious of a plainly junky, R-rated reaction to “The Twilight Saga,” perhaps you can be stopped.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

“Wolves” presents its lead Cayden (a stiff Lucas Till) well into his transition as a teenage wolf. However, he’s not a cool teen wolf like the one played by Michael J. Fox who dazzled classmates with his basketball dunks, but one that scares the town senseless. He eventually runs away after getting too wolf-y with his girlfriend and then killing his parents in the same hormonal rage, ending his brief career as the non-murderous high school dude who had it all.

Cayden then begins a life as half-dog/all-drifter until he meets Wild Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson) who has Cayden’s animalistic qualities, and advises the young man to relocate to a specific small town. Following the word of this mysterious man, Cayden relocates to the locale, and takes up farming work for a married couple who don’t ask any questions. He even gets a new girlfriend, Angelina (Merritt Patterson). However, it’s Cayden who becomes the confused one when he is confronted with his origins by the weird townspeople. Many of the people in his new town are - surprise! - also wolves, and are led by an evil man named Connor (Jason Momoa of “Game of Thrones,” who won’t be getting a rom-com role anytime soon). Unbeknownst to both of them, they share a deeper connection.

“Wolves” opens in limited theaters on November 14, 2014, and is currently available on VOD. Featuring Lucas Till, Merritt Patterson, Stephen McHattie, John Pyper-Ferguson, and Jason Momoa. Written and directed by David Hayter. Rated “R”