Fans of young adult films like the Twilight movies might find Wolves entertaining if ultimately forgettable.
When high school football hero Cayden (Lucas Till) pummels an opposing player in an animalistic rage on the field, it sets off a series of events that culminate in the death of his parents. Wanted for murder, Cayden escapes town on a motorcycle looking to discover the truth about his hidden rage. Cayden encounters Wild Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson,) a one-eyed loner, who points him in the direction of Lupine Ridge, a small town that holds the answers to his questions and his origins. Cayden, you see, is a werewolf.
Upon arrival in Lupine Ridge, Cayden discovers that finding the truth won’t be as simple as asking a few questions. He gets entangled in a conflict between town baddie Connor (Jason Momoa) and kindly farmer John (Stephen McHattie.) He falls in love with bar owner Angel (Merritt Patterson.) Oh, they’re all werewolves too.
Wolves, written and directed by David Hayter (X-Men,) feels like a mashup of the Twilight series and the pilot for an unmade television show. Unfortunately, there are so many different genre elements that creep into the script that the film never develops a coherent tone or atmosphere. There’s gore but the werewolves look like well-groomed costumes. There’s a lot of melodrama but few, if any, scares. Some of the special effects are impressive and others are laughably bad.
At the core of this unfocused mess lies an interesting premise: a society of werewolves with lineage that extends back several hundred years. Different factions within the society wanting different things. A struggle to stay remain undiscovered. But, unfortunately, none of that is explored beyond the clash between what amounts to a biker gang and an aging farmer over the appearance of an outsider.
The mostly young cast tries to make the best of their dialogue. Lucas Till, TV’s second MacGyver, delivers his lines with gusto. His chemistry with Merritt Patterson’s Angel feels genuine. Jason Momoa chews up every scene he can. Veteran actor Stephen McHattie (Pontypool) provides some levity while Melanie Scrofano injects some much needed humor as Angel’s drunken sister, Gail. However, I don’t think any of them would consider this film a résumé highlight.
Fans of young adult films like the aforementioned Twilight movies might find Wolves entertaining if ultimately forgettable. For adults with more discerning tastes, it’s just forgettable.
2.0 out of 5.0 stars
