WolfCop (2014) – Film Review

Director: Lowell Dean
Writer: Lowell Dean
Cast: Leo Fafard, Amy Matysio, Jonathan Cherry
Runtime: 79 min
Rating: R

The horror genre gets a bit of twist with a blend of humour, rocking music and lots of fur with Lowell Dean’s WolfCop.

WolfCop follows alcoholic cop Lou Garou (Leo Fafard) , a man who cares less about life and more about the bottle. Passing out is but a part of the plan, but when strange things start to happen in his little town, he soon realizes things are a bit off. The story follows Garou as he digs deep to the beast within and make things right, one transformation at a time.

The horror genre has had its ups and downs in the past decade or so, with more downs than ups. Frankly, nothing new is brought to the table, and while that’s cool with most horror enthusiasts, other untapped audiences don’t necessarily have incentive to pick up a ticket. WolfCop extends the horror genre a bit, blending in humour and action with the familiar elements of gore, slashing, blood, etc. Having these other elements gives the film some pace, keeping you intrigued – rather than just freaked out – with the happenings on screen.

The performances were not hair standing per say (no pun intended) but each actor did justice to their respective characters. Leo Fafard certainly brought that rough, edgy look to his Lou Garou, which translated well to his evolutionary furry beast. That transition was very fluid and not at all hurried up, which would have ruined the moment. Amy Matysio’s Tina is one character you wish there was more of, with her macho aura and sophisticated character. She really brought balance to the film, especially with so much weirdness going on. Another memorable performance was Willie played by Jonathan Cherry. His humour was a refreshing part of the film, with it being simply a part of immediate dialogue. You didn’t get the sense that it was forced or he was trying too hard.

It now comes to the point where the elephant in the room with any horror film must be addressed: the story. Horror fans can rejoice because the film delivers on the horror front, giving fans the horror elements they all expect to see in a film within the genre. For those who go out looking for sophistication, you will find some with the great selection of music and relatively great visual effects. The story, however, has a few flaws. It starts off very strong, building a sense of intrigue and curiosity. As the film progresses, however, certain happenings and scenes are not as well crafted as others. There are other instances where certain things become very predictable. With that said, there are many surprises towards the end which you never see coming. While it is not the most refined story, it is much better than most you see within the genre. It was surprising and definitely a treat.

WolfCop blends together old school elements, with great music, cool visual effects and good performances to create a refreshing new take on the horror genre. It isn’t a brilliant film, but definitely a fun indie production with a variety of good elements. Horror fans will definitely enjoy it.