REVIEW: Angelic Wolves: The Movie

- By @TheBlueTook

“A beautiful, nature-loving girl finds an extraordinary bond to Hillcrest Forest when she discovers its unusual secret.” – IMDB

I presume you’re all aware of the film’s title? Good. So to mention Hillcrest Forest’s ‘secret’ is it’s a stomping ground for lovely lycanthropes isn’t much of a revelation or spoiler. Director/editor/writer/composer/producer Dark Libra’s 25-minute fantasy-horror tries to put its own spin on the age-old werewolf legend by making them guardians of the wilderness, who only harm others when their habitat is under threat. So, what if angels and werewolves were one and the same?, ANGELIC WOLVES asks. Well, it doesn’t really begin to answer its own question here, but as there’s also a mini series by the same name I’m yet to see, maybe clues are revealed there.

The story revolves around wolfman Johnny (Baade) and his relationship with Eve (Cryselle), tentatively developing amid some decent shots of wooded scenery and adequate acting. Filmed, edited and scored entirely on an iPhone, it’s tough to be overly critical when you consider the limitations, but visually it’s not the most pleasing and suffers from an apparent overuse of effect overlays and maybe a conversion from colour to black and white, which impacts the exposure. While I appreciate the attempt at aiming for that retro feel, it falls short of the mark.

When a low budget project like this hits the ol’ digital doormat, I hope and pray the phrase “less is more” was uttered continuously at the drawing board when planning the creature. Unfortunately, we see far too much of the wolf here, and while it’s a beautiful mask with a luscious, strokeable mane, that AINT what I want from my shapeshifters! No, sir! Given less screen time, Libra and the gang may just have gotten away with it, but as it stands, it’s quite comical to see it in all its unashamed glory – which isn’t totally a bad thing, I suppose, depending on their intentions.

ANGELIC WOLVES feels like a student test run with a mish-mash of ideas vying for prominence, filled with clumsy storytelling, rushed character introduction and questionable choices. But there IS something within the short runtime which makes it strangely endearing – what that is, I haven’t quite figured out. Maybe it’s the fact it all feels so innocently naive and enthusiastic, or perhaps it’s the fact the birds in the trees seem to be chirping through supercharged megaphones – an audio HELL for a werewolf’s sensitive hearing I’d imagine!

@TheBlueTook