December 15, 2020
Review: 'The Wolf of Snow Hollow' Has Humorous Bite
Kevin Taft READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Jim Cummings writes, directs, and stars in the comedic horror film "The Wolf of Snow Hollow." The slim, handsome triple-threat works overtime here and gives the movie an edge it might not otherwise have had.
The story is simple: John (Cummings) is a small mountain town officer in Utah who is faced with his first big problem: Something has violently killed a woman who has just returned to town. While it's apparent the killing was probably not done by human hands, John is insistent the killer is a man and not a wolf, bear, or werewolf - possibilities everyone in the Sheriff's office have proposed.
Sheriff Hadley (Robert Forster, in his last role) is on the verge of retirement because of failing health, and John is next in line. Now sober, John is determined to solve the case and ensure his promotion.
As more bodies end up being discovered, John starts to lose his grip on reality when no one wants to believe that he thinks it's a killer of this earth. His humorous frustration drives him to fall off the wagon as he continues to attempt to solve the crimes. Meanwhile, the audience is witness to werewolf attacks that are vicious and seemingly directed at women.
The basic plot of this good-looking film is as modest as what I've described. What makes it different is the dry humor throughout, and Cummings' gradually unhinged performance. If you took his characterization of John away, the script could have been played straight as written. Which would have been fine, but Cummings certainly does draw your attention to his quirky, off-kilter performance that will leave you giggling and wanting more. (He's also stunningly good-looking.)
The other bonus is the quick shots of the werewolf, which often have the beast in shadow or charging at its victims in such a way you only get glimpses of the thing. But suffice to say, these are the werewolves that werewolf fans love: Tall, strong, and terrifying. No CGI here.
That makes this "Wolf of Snow Hollow" definitely one to go searching for!
"The Wolf of Snow Hollow" will be released in theaters and On-Demand 10/9. Own it on Blu-ray and DVD on December 15
