d. Stuart Brennan; w. George McKlusky; p. Stuart Brennan,
Mark Paul Wake; cast: Stuart Brennan, George McKlusky, Mark Paul Wake, Adanna Oji,
Austin Caley, Victoria Morrison, Ross Anderson, Jennifer Chippendale
When a squad of soldiers is attacked by werewolves in the
Scottish Highlands, comparisons to Dog Soldiers are inevitable – albeit Wolf is
set 18 centuries earlier. Brennan’s Roman horror has a team of legionaries and
associates searching for missing messengers. After fighting some Picts, they’re
stalked by barely-glimpsed, fast-moving beast-men so head back towards Hadrian’s
Wall. Much of the film is frustratingly slow and talkie, but the characters are
interesting and most of the acting is good. When we eventually see the
attackers they’re naked guys with fangs (which contradicts the bipedal wolf pawprints
found earlier). Nevertheless this ambitious, high concept horror – legionaries vs
lycanthropes – merits a watch, if only for the impressive costumes and Simon
Aukes’ top-notch cinematography which incorporates stunning drone shots of the
snow-covered landscape. McKlusky is George McCluskey (The Zombie King). Many of
the cast also worked with Brennan on Plan Z, The Necromancer and A Christmas
Carol. Horrible Histories author Terry Deary was executive producer.
(Four stars.)
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