Item: Wolf
Rating: 7
Author: JimmyO

PLOT: A young man who thinks he is a wolf in a human form is sent to an unorthodox rehabilitation center.

REVIEW: Wolf is, at times, a fascinating film. It can also be frustrating and hard to watch. Witnessing people struggle in a very flawed mental health institution is very heartbreaking to see. Yet Nathalie Biancheri’s feature builds on this complex subject matter with assuredness and style. That’s not to say it’s an easy or pleasant viewing experience, but it’s worth investing in if you tire of the norm. The story of a young man (played by the terrific George MacKay) who thinks he’s a wolf integrates a little bit of fantasy into an occasionally somber tale. While not an easy watch per se, there’s much to admire in this strange and challenging new film.

Jacob (MacKay) thinks he is a wolf. Literally. The young man struggles to accept that he is anything but an animal in the body of a human. His concerned family decides to place him in a home with like-minded souls seeking help. The center is run by “The Zookeeper” (Paddy Considine) and it’s a specialized rehabilitation program that treats patients affected by this strange affliction. Once there, Jacob meets a girl who believes she’s a wildcat (Lily-Rose Depp), but she also has insight into what is going on at the institution. After suffering from the Zookeeper’s abusive methods, the two decide they must escape from the facility. However, they find that getting out may be an impossible feat. Will they make it out? Or is there any possibility of true freedom for these unusual souls?

The most impressive thing about Wolf is the performances from both George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp. And you can count Paddy Considine in that. For MacKay, the actor continues to explore fascinating roles that are challenging. Here, both he and Depp manage to create very sympathetic and fragile characters. It can’t be easy to make acting like an animal authentic yet still not delving into camp. However, the two manage to do just that. Their on-screen relationship builds, and as it does, you care more and more about their fate. For Considine, the actor relishes the Zookeeper’s strange ways. He brings a sadistic understanding to a man that has questionable motives in his unorthodox treatments.

Written and directed by Nathalie Biancheri, Wolf isn’t quite what you might expect. The story here explores the illness called species dysphoria – the belief that one is an animal trapped in a human body. Biancheri delves into the subject matter in a sometimes clinical but always understanding way. The cruelness of the Zookeeper – whatever his reasoning may be – brings an element of depravity. While you still can’t narrow the film down to being a horror film, or for that matter, a thriller, it’s a unique examination into the illness. The filmmaker has more in mind than making a straight-up basic genre flick here. Instead, what we get is an arthouse tale that will frustrate some viewers but will likely excite those looking for something unique and unusual. Wolf offers a little bit of both.

One of the most challenging things here is how frustrating it is to see on-screen abuse of these strange but generally innocent people. There are more than a few instances that are damn near cringe-worthy. One sequence involving a young man who thinks he’s a squirrel (Darragh Shannon) is savage and horrific in a simple way. It’s one of the first times we witness the depraved nature of the Zookeeper’s treatments. Wolf is a wholly fictional account, and it’s not representative of any real-life programs. That said, it’s not hard to imagine that you’ll find equally terrible, and probably far worse, situations for those struggling with mental illness in the real world. Thankfully, the filmmaker never treats the atrocities as a joke. The honesty of the cruel nature is far more compelling than what could’ve evolved into an exaggerated horror show.

Wolf is not a perfect film. The ending may leave some viewers empty with its uncertainty. The exploration between reality and the more imaginative world in which the characters live might be a bit too silly for some. That said, Biancheri has crafted an intriguing tale of a young man who thinks he’s a wolf. Aside from the interesting premise and the exploration of mental illness, the performances bring it all together. George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp are both fantastic here. Both create sympathetically and fully realized characters without feeling cartoonish or over-the-top. Ultimately, this is a slightly fantastical look at a subject matter rarely talked about in cinema. While not perfect, Wolf is worth investing time in for those looking for something off the beaten path.