Creature Feature: The Wolf of Snow Hollow
Robert Forster, Riki Lindhome, and Jim Cummings try to figure out of a wolf is killing people in their small town.
The real monsters are always the people you have to work with.
What’s The Wolf of Snow Hollow About?
In the sleepy town of Snow Hollow, Officer John Marshall (Jim Cummings) is already feeling the strain. His father is the town sheriff and is rapidly aging out of the gig, but refuses to retire. His ex-wife hates him, and his daughter is like a stranger to him. Marshall is also a recovering alcoholic, who keeps a six-pack of beer over his microwave, just in case.
He might need that beer when the first body shows up in Snow Hollow.
A mutilated woman is found slain outside of a rental property. The police force is immediately overwhelmed, with most of the officers wanting to send the case to the FBI instead of investigating. Marshall, sensing an impending disaster, insists he and his team can handle the investigation.
But can they?
When another woman is murdered under the light of a full moon, whispers start that a werewolf is stalking Snow Hollow. While Marshall desperately tries to find the bad guy and quell the rumors of a werewolf, his life begins to crumble. As Marshall succumbs to stress, he begins to let his rage overwhelm him. Now there are two monsters stalking Snow Hollow.
As Marshall unravels, the killings continue. Is there a silver bullet for stopping the killings or is Snow Hollow doomed?
Is the Creature Cool?
There are a couple of really nifty shots in The Wolf of Snow Hollow, which are a pretty good example of how to make the most of a small budget. There is a wolf featured in the movie, and it’s lit perfectly to keep it from seeming silly.
Why Is The Wolf of Snow Hollow Good?
Funny, sad, and thrilling, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is one of the more inventive and sharp horror comedies of the new millennium. It deftly deals with several topics from incompetent police forces to sexism to dealing with aging parents. It’s also a fascinating look at how tension chips away at someone until they completely unfurl.
There is a particularly interesting through-line with how women are treated. Marshall is keenly aware that the victims are women, and that historically killings like this target women. But he can’t seem to let his female officer (Riki Lindhome) advise him when she has an idea. He also can’t see that while he screams about people doing their jobs, she actually is – her legwork as she tracks down leads actually end up saving the day.
The best part of the film is undoubtedly Cummings, who also wrote and directed the movie. His Marshall is a tightly-wound man that’s clinging to normality with his fingertips, all the time knowing his grip is slipping. Cummings is particularly talented at having mental breakdowns on film. His fast-talking brash characters are a perfect foil for the subjects he’s looking at. Here, his Marshall rails against the incompetence of the department while being drunk on the job. He is, in essence, every internet blowhard or TV presenter who yells about how to fix things while never actually fixing anything.
While definitely an indie film, The Wolf of Snow boats some impressive cinematography by Natalie Kingston. As I mentioned above, she’s got a brilliant touch for capturing the creature. Kingston also crafts some genuinely spooky shots and some stunning art images that keep the movie visually thrilling.
Verdict?
A brilliant satire disguised as a horror comedy, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is one of those movies you’ll annoyingly recommend repeatedly at parties.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow is rated R and available to stream on Epix or rent/buy on your favorite VOD service
