An alcoholic officer in the small town of Snow Hollow has to deal with
his sick father, college bound daughter, ex-wife, and a brutal serial killer. HORROR
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The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)Written and Directed by Jim Cummings
Starring Jim Cummings, Robert Forster, Riki Lindhome, Jimmy Tatro, Chloe East, Will Madden |
The Wolf of Snow Hollow straddles the fine line between comedy and horror, delivering a unique werewolf experience that sits firmly in both camps. Ultimately, it's a film about the stress of losing control, as we see everything through the eyes of Officer John Marshall (Cummings), as he heads up a brutal serial killer investigation while at the same time his father is dying and his daughter is going to college. Plus, the killer might be a werewolf, and John is not having it.
In Snow Hollow, Utah, murders like this just don't happen. Several women are ripped to pieces and their body parts stolen, and witnesses identify large paw prints and wolf hair. Officer John is convinced it's a guy because werewolves don't exist, but the lack of evidence and constant ridicule from his peers and the public force John into a nervous breakdown. His father (Forster, in his final role) is ignoring his heart problems, and his daughter (East) resents him. The murders are almost secondary, which I thought worked because Cummings does such a good job. The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not your typical werewolf fare. What it is is a realistic depiction of an alcoholic small-town cop having a breakdown, while a possible werewolf ravages the women of Snow Hollow. The werewolf costume is quite terrifying, and very reminiscent of The Howling and Underworld. I enjoyed this film because it was different, and because its struggles and characters are relatable. |
Werewolf movies come in all shapes and sizes. There are some that are considered classics (The Wolf Man, An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Wolfen) and others that push the subgenre (WolfCop in particular) and really have fun with the form. I think The Wolf of Snow Hollow sits somewhere in the middle of these as it is more about the people in this story than it is about the monster; though it does have something to say about masculinity and how fragile over-confident men are inside.
Where I think this flick excels is the characters. John Marshall (Cummings) is the sheriff of Snow Hollow, an alcoholic, divorced dad who has the reputation and personality of his father to live up to. He does not respond well to pressure and as the bodies are discovered, the town demands he bring this killer to justice. I got some Silver Bullet vibes as I was watching this because of the setting in a small town in Utah with snow-covered drone shots showing the town is pretty much isolated from the big city (though you're not really sure where this town is) so the pressure is definitely on. John has to deal with his Dad (Forster), the former sheriff, who is too proud to admit how sick he really is to put on a brave face and keep the rest of the lazy/scared deputies motivated. That is the essential focus of this film: men who cannot come to terms with their own vulnerabilities, accept their limitations, and learn how to cope with stress. The film opens on John at an AA meeting where we find out he's been sober for three years but his face shows just how much he is struggling. The hunt for the killer is mostly secondary to the breakdown John is going through as his world collapses in on him. And this is the other theme the film hits on: the beast within. It's something that most werewolf movies are about in the struggle one has to go through when they have this darker, animalistic nature inside them that's fighting to get out. Cummings either intentionally or unintentionally balances these heavy moments with outright humor and dialogue that undermines the machismo on display. The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not your average werewolf flick as it does play with your expectations with regards to the outcome. Is there actually a werewolf on the loose? Is man really the most dangerous creature? I recommend taking a trip to Snow Hollow and finding out for yourself. |