Horror

‘Wolf Garden’ Prefers a Little Mystery to Big Bad Wolves


master mentalism tricks

‘Wolf Garden’ Prefers a Little Mystery to Big Bad Wolves
Sian Altman in Wolf Garden

The werewolf genre is usually beholden to a formula consisting of brash, violent kills and, at some point, an effects-heavy transformation sequence. After An American Werewolf in London and The Howling, the Bottin and Baker effect informed many filmmakers that, in order to make a good werewolf movie, the creature needs to come out of the shadows at some point. Wolf Garden, from writer-director Wayne David, goes a different route entirely. This is a quiet, solitary film that lends itself more to the trappings of a psychological ghost story with a heaping of werewolf lore thrown in for good measure.

Wayne also takes the lead in Wolf Garden as the intensely troubled William, alongside actress Sian Altman who plays his accommodating girlfriend Chantelle. An incident in town has caused both of them to sneak off to a remote cabin in the woods to wait until things, hopefully, blow over. When William takes an unwise stroll through a nearby town, he sees a newspaper headline declaring that both of them have gone missing. Through a series of unsettling flashbacks and non-linear setups, William appears haunted by Chantelle who seems to appear and reappear at will. There’s also a creature in the woods he keeps feeding raw meat.

Wolf Garden is beyond a slow burn. It’s a meandering, pensive study of a man unraveling. But it never strays so far off the path that it loses its bearings completely. Mysterious calls from an outsider telling William to stay locked away arouse suspicion that he’s done something unthinkable. William never wakes up naked and afraid. But it’s clear that the werewolf trope of memory loss after a night out on the prowl is definitely at play here. Is William a werewolf? Or is he just a confused hermit? Where is his girlfriend? These questions should keep you invested just enough to see things through to the end.

An eerie soundscape of loud, boisterous strings works well to send a jolt when it’s needed most. And a real deftness for editing keeps the guessing game going without being completely disorienting. William’s vision becomes more and more blurred until, finally, the truth is revealed.

There are some visual cues to An American Werewolf in London that pay subtle reference to David Naughton’s cursed best friend trapped in limbo. Pulling triple duty, Wayne David’s Wolf Garden acknowledges the werewolf movies that have come before, but doesn’t seem concerned with duplicating them.

Even if Wolf Garden had the budget, it’s just not that kind of werewolf movie. Go in expecting a very insular story with some serious nightmare logic. The payoff is worth it, even if the final reveal feels a little forced after Wolf Garden tries so hard not to be a typical werewolf movie.

Wolf Garden is now available on Digital Platforms from Gravitas Ventures.

Summary

Wolf Garden works more when it’s delving into psychological horror instead of adhering to any kind of canonized werewolf lore.

Tags: An American Werewolf in London Wolf Garden
Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter

Read The Full Article Here


trick photography
Steve From Blue’s Clues Checks In Amid Trump’s Victory
Steve From Blue’s Clues Checks In Amid Trump’s Victory
Kristin Cavallari’s Confessions About Dating After Mark Estes Split
Kristin Cavallari’s Confessions About Dating After Mark Estes Split
Who Will Be the 47th President? Everything About 2024 Election Results – Hollywood Life
Who Will Be the 47th President? Everything About 2024 Election Results – Hollywood Life
21 Celebrities With Massively Inflated Egos
21 Celebrities With Massively Inflated Egos
‘I have my own method; I’m still learning and discovering’
‘I have my own method; I’m still learning and discovering’
Wheel of Fortune Bonus Puzzle Answer Today for November 6, 2024
Wheel of Fortune Bonus Puzzle Answer Today for November 6, 2024
Ryan Reynolds Reveals New Project With Jackman and Levy
Ryan Reynolds Reveals New Project With Jackman and Levy
Top 5 Gus Van Sant Films, Ranked
Top 5 Gus Van Sant Films, Ranked
Frasier Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Murder Most Finch
Frasier Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Murder Most Finch
Ken Jennings Drops Big Streaming News
Ken Jennings Drops Big Streaming News
Brilliant Minds Offers An Understanding of Neurodivergence Far Beyond What The Good Doctor Achieved
Brilliant Minds Offers An Understanding of Neurodivergence Far Beyond What The Good Doctor Achieved
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Rage as Episode Gets Trumped for TV Election Coverage
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Rage as Episode Gets Trumped for TV Election Coverage
The 5 Grossest Metal Album Covers of All Time
The 5 Grossest Metal Album Covers of All Time
Election Result Is a “Great Day for Democracy”
Election Result Is a “Great Day for Democracy”
Oasis Extend 2025 Reunion Tour Into South America
Oasis Extend 2025 Reunion Tour Into South America
Kelly Clarkson to Return as Host of ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Kelly Clarkson to Return as Host of ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Interview with Bianca Lee Ward, Author of Axle (WAR BROTHERS MC Book 1)
Interview with Bianca Lee Ward, Author of Axle (WAR BROTHERS MC Book 1)
15 Comforting, Stress-Free Reads
15 Comforting, Stress-Free Reads
Secrets, Sibling Bonds, and the Scars of Loss
Secrets, Sibling Bonds, and the Scars of Loss
New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 5
New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 5
Coach Times Square Tabby Shoulder Bag Review
Coach Times Square Tabby Shoulder Bag Review
Emma Stone Wore the Best Type of Jeans to Pair With Boots
Emma Stone Wore the Best Type of Jeans to Pair With Boots
Kylie Jenner’s Khy Smooth Stretch Capri Catsuit Review
Kylie Jenner’s Khy Smooth Stretch Capri Catsuit Review
8 Taupe Bags That Go With Every Outfit
8 Taupe Bags That Go With Every Outfit
SEÑALES (2002) – Pelicula de Terror y Sci-Fi
SEÑALES (2002) – Pelicula de Terror y Sci-Fi
Guillermo del Toro Calls This Horror Film “Superb,” Stream It Now
Guillermo del Toro Calls This Horror Film “Superb,” Stream It Now
‘Jeepers Creepers’ Insta Account Asks Fans a Bizarre Question
‘Jeepers Creepers’ Insta Account Asks Fans a Bizarre Question
What Underrated Zombie Movies Are Worth Watching?
What Underrated Zombie Movies Are Worth Watching?