Out in the wilderness, a barely alive man armed only with a sharp stick attempts to crawl to safety. Not far away is a cabin where Sophie (Missy Peregrym) and Nolan (Damon Runyan) are. When a knock at the door interrupts their solitude, they answer the door and find Kyle (Joris Jarsky), an expert hunter. Sophie is surprised to see Kyle alone, as she also expects his partner, Leah, to be with him.
Nolan is writing an article about hunting, and thanks to Sophie’s connections, Kyle will take him out into the woods for his first experience. Before the hunt can begin, Nolan is given a few pointers on shooting a bow and arrow and handling other weapons. As the two men converse, it becomes evident that Kyle has a history with Sophie. After a practice session with firearms, the trio spends the evening together, enjoying drinks and sharing laughter. However, Kyle keeps making jokes with Sophie, and Nolan begins to question the dynamic between them. Nolan openly expresses his concerns, which leads to some disagreements. The next day, Nolan and Kyle begin their journey into the wilderness. As they start their hunt in the woods, they encounter a significant threat: a pack of hungry wolves.
Out Come the Wolves is a thriller with elements of horror. The film was written and directed by Adam MacDonald, who previously directed Backcountry (2014) and Pyewacket (2017). After the opening sequence, the film effectively introduces its characters, providing a thorough understanding of who they are, their backgrounds, their skills, and what they are capable of as hunters and individuals.
Once the first act surpasses, we see our leads in the woods with various unexpected outcomes and surprises. Upon my first watch, I admired the character development, which created stakes, and by the second act, I had concerns and hopes that our leads would survive and generally wondered what the outcomes would be. Visually, this is a terrific-looking film. I loved the scenery surrounding the wilderness, and the killer wolves looked menacing and creepy. Tracking shots behind the camera were also great, and little details, such as how the shots are conducted when our leads ride a motorbike or run around, were also enjoyable. If you enjoy seeing blood and flesh torn off, Out Comes the Wolves has you covered in this department, too.
Considering that this film features only three actors, I was impressed with its effectiveness as a horror and thriller. However, I must acknowledge that dialogue is a key issue. At times, spoken lines felt less impactful and more cheesy. This concern was especially evident in the third act and the climax, where some lines were questionable, and character choices can appear baffling and, for some viewers, frustrating. Despite these issues, I still found a lot to enjoy, and felt it provided excellent entertainment.
Overall, I had a great time watching this film. It’s an excellent example of a horror movie that takes time to develop its characters correctly, creating rewarding stakes for the audience. There are many unpredictable moments, and the showdown deserves recognition for its intensity and payoff, even if some actions are questionable. Visually, the film is brilliantly crafted, with impressive tracking shots and a captivating atmosphere. However, the film does have some minor flaws. Some lines of dialogue felt unnatural or overly cheesy. Nonetheless, this is a fun horror film filled with thrills, bloodshed, and intense moments that will satisfy a wide range of film enthusiasts.
Out Come the Wolves (2024) is Available on Shudder from November 29th!
FILM SCORE: 6.7/10
Published: 24th November 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
CONNECT WITH PETER WALKDEN:
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@walkdenentertainment / @walkdenpublicity
FOLLOW US ON LETTERBOXD:
@Peter_Walkden
0 Comments