While creatures of the night and the undead have long dominated the horror genre, solidly entertaining werewolf films are scarce. Wolf Garden, the latest title in the subgenre, is written and directed by Wayne David. In addition to his work behind the camera, David co-stars in the film with Sian Altman.
The film’s marketing materials describe it as “American Werewolf in London meets Vertigo,” and the influence of both classic films is clear. Wolf Garden follows William (Wayne David), who lives in a remote cabin. He is visited, or perhaps haunted, by his lover, Chantelle (Sian Altman), as he attempts to piece together details of a mysterious creature in the woods and his own isolation.
Werewolf films, unlike the previously mentioned monsters, can benefit from not showing too much of the creature. Aside from FX-heavy classics like 1981’s American Werewolf in London, which set the bar extremely high, most keep it hidden until a big reveal. Wolf Garden follows a similar strategy with a gradual payoff while keeping the gore and FX minimal.
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The build-up to the climax incorporates horror in other ways, resulting in some genuinely terrifying moments. As William’s reality and visions become blurred, this is mainly delivered in scenes with Chantelle. The mystery of William’s location and relationship with the local town is intriguing, with breadcrumbs left along the way for viewers to ponder.
Location is everything in a film that is so reliant on isolation. Wolf Garden is a beautifully shot film that makes full use of its setting. Through the tall, overgrown trees and greenery, the exterior scenes felt desolate and enclosed. Despite the fact that William is within walking distance of a small village, civilization appears to be a long way away. It creates a terrifyingly tense atmosphere while not knowing what lurks in the woods.
There are some cliched lines of dialogue and scenes, but both main actors give solid performances. Much of the film is carried by David, and his confidence in the role grows as the plot unfolds. The main issue throughout the film was pacing during quieter moments. Some scenes could have been cut or removed to move things along, but David’s intent with Wolf Garden is never lost.
Wolf Garden may not satisfy bloodthirsty creature feature fans, but it is worth seeing if you’re looking for a haunting film with a few scares. Gravitas Ventures will release the movie digitally/On Demand on February 28th.
Full synopsis: William has gone into hiding in the countryside following horrifically violent events. Struggling to come to terms with reality, he flashes between past, present, and fantasies involving the woman he loves, Chantelle. As his sanity crumbles and he continues to feed an unseen creature locked inside a shed in the woods, he begins having apparitions of a ghostly Visitor who pushes him to kill the creature and discover a terrible truth about Chantelle before the next full moon.
