Wolves gets bogged down dramatically by trying to stretch a limited and generic story into an entire feature length film.
The biggest letdown is the pacing, which is painfully slow and drawn out. Getting through the first twenty or thirty minutes with little action and nothing gripping, except for armouring background tone makes it a genuine struggle to continue. Additionally, the film features an agonizingly weird, isolated protagonist who is so unlikeable that there is zero compassion or emotional attachment to him or what he is trying to achieve.
When the protagonist gets shot in the neck during the film, you don't necessarily feel suspense or terrifying remorse but rather a sense of inevitability. This moment feels somewhat satisfying as it removes a miserable low-life thief from the world.
The plot itself is both slow and weak. In summary, a very lonely, anti-social man decides to investigate a series of animal-related killings by visiting crime scenes and doing some detective work. He is trying to find purpose in his life as he relates closely to the same stereotype as the killer. He becomes increasingly attached to the cases but behaves very oddly, such as attacking a librarian in a paranoid fit, and trying his luck on a dating website which he never fully commits to.
The plot is completely broken. Somehow, in his detective work, the protagonist manages to pinpoint the exact location of the killer with no direction and limited information. He ends up in the middle of the woods at the exact time and place as the killer based on knowing the killer is likely to go hunting in a large wilderness area.
Furthermore, the occult elements used to hype the film were minimal and misleading. These attributes were flimsy and didn't interweave into the film in any meaningful or mystical way.
Frankly, there isn't much to praise. The actor and his performance were unconvincing, the film was slow, and it fails to capture your attention. The film had a monotonous pace, with little tension or suspense, making nothing stand out as memorable.
Wolves is a short story that would have been better suited to a 30-minute documentary. It's a shame the film opted for a dreary, limited story set in reality instead of adding excitement or a chilling vibe. It feels empty and soulless, with the Canadian winter looking stark and depressing. While this may fit the narrative, it does nothing to engage the audience.
Wolves ultimately is a failed attempt to turn a loosely based true story into a shocking and terrifying experience.
2/10.
