Wolf (2021 Irish-Polish film)
{{short description|2021 Irish-Polish drama film}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Wolf
| image = Wolf 2021 film poster.png
| caption = US theatrical release poster
| director = Nathalie Biancheri
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Jessie Fisk
- Nathalie Biancheri
}}
| writer = Nathalie Biancheri
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = Stefan Wesołowski
| cinematography = Michal Dymek
| editing =
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
- Feline Films
- Lava Films
- Polish Film Institute
- Screen Ireland
- Eurimages
}}
| distributor = Focus Features
| released = {{Film date|2021|9|17|df=y|TIFF|2021|12|3|United States}}
| runtime = 98 minutes{{cite web|url=https://tiff.net/events/wolf|title=Wolf|website=Toronto International Film Festival|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728203315/https://tiff.net/events/wolf|url-status=live}}
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Ireland
- Poland
}}
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $565,825{{cite Box Office Mojo |id= 10698174 |title= Wolf (2021) |access-date=8 February 2023}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite The Numbers |id=Wolf-(2021-Ireland) |title= Wolf (2021) |access-date=17 December 2021}}
}}
Wolf is a 2021 psychological drama film{{Cite web|title=Weekend Box Office Results: Encanto Holds Top Spot and Eyes Pandemic Record|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-results-encanto-holds-top-spot-and-eyes-pandemic-record/|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=2021-12-28|language=en-US|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228103726/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-results-encanto-holds-top-spot-and-eyes-pandemic-record/|url-status=live}} written and directed by Nathalie Biancheri. An international co-production of Ireland and Poland, it stars George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp, Paddy Considine, Eileen Walsh, Fionn O'Shea and Lola Petticrew.
Wolf had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 17, 2021. It had a limited theatre release in the United States on December 3, 2021, by Focus Features. The film received mixed reviews from critics who praised the performances of MacKay, Depp, and Considine, but criticized Biancheri's script and direction.
Plot
A boy named Jacob who suffers from clinical lycanthropy,{{cite journal |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23696338/ |last=Blom |first=J.D. |title="Klinische zoantropie" [Clinical zoanthropy] |journal=Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie |volume=55 |issue=5 |year=2013 |pages=359–68 |pmid=23696338 |language=nl |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321212941/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23696338/ |url-status=live }} believing he is a wolf, is committed to a mental asylum following an attack on his brother. There he meets and befriends the other patients, who also believe themselves to be animals, including Rufus, who believes he is a German Shepherd. He forms a close bond with Cecile, an enigmatic patient nicknamed "Wildcat", and together they roam the hallways at night. After witnessing the brutal methods of treatment performed by the vicious, sociopathic and mentally unstable head of the asylum, Dr. Mann, the Zookeeper, Jacob becomes frustrated and attacks an orderly, resulting in him being caged and gagged. Cecile sneaks into the room where he is caged one night and makes love to him, but they are caught by Dr Angeli and Jacob is punished with a cattle prod, causing the other patients to lash out at the Zookeeper. Disgusted by Zookeeper and Angeli, Cecile frees Jacob from his cage, allowing him to escape into the forest where he can live in freedom as a wolf.
Cast
- George MacKay as Jacob (Wolf)
- Lily-Rose Depp as Cecile (Wildcat)
- Paddy Considine as Dr. Mann (Zookeeper)
- Eileen Walsh as Dr. Angeli
- Fionn O'Shea as Rufus (German Shepherd)
- Lola Petticrew as Judith (Parrot)
- Karise Yansen as Annalisa (Panda)
- Darragh Shannon as Jeremy (Squirrel)
- Senan Jennings as Ivan (Duck)
Production
In February 2020, it was announced George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp had joined the cast of the film, with Nathalie Biancheri directing from a screenplay she wrote.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/george-mackay-lily-rose-depp-to-star-in-uk-genre-pic-wolf-1202858135/|title=George MacKay & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In Genre Film 'Wolf'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=12 February 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=November 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122104236/https://deadline.com/2020/02/george-mackay-lily-rose-depp-to-star-in-uk-genre-pic-wolf-1202858135/|url-status=live}} In September 2020, Paddy Considine, Eileen Walsh, Fionn O'Shea, Lola Petticrew and Senan Jennings joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.movies.ie/nocturnal-interview-with-director-nathalie-biancheri/|title=Nocturnal – Interview with Director Nathalie Biancheri|website=movies.ie|date=17 September 2020|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022647/http://www.movies.ie/nocturnal-interview-with-director-nathalie-biancheri/|url-status=live}}
Principal photography began in August 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CESUxskpt0n/|title=May the shooting Gods protect for the next 6 weeks... #dayoneDONE! 🐺|website=Instagram|first=Nathalie|last=Biancheri|date=24 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kftv.com/news/2020/07/17/international-shoots-turn-to-ireland-as-european-production-slowly-restarts|title=International shoots turn to Ireland as European production slowly restarts|website=kftv.com|first=Ben|last=Dalton|date=17 July 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234116/https://www.kftv.com/news/2020/07/17/international-shoots-turn-to-ireland-as-european-production-slowly-restarts|url-status=live}} Production was initially set to begin in April 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/poland-news/item/119515-production-irish-polish-coproduction-starring-george-mackay-and-lily-rose-depp-in-production|title=PRODUCTION: Irish/Polish Coproduction Starring George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp In Production|website=Film New Europe|date=13 February 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922165652/https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/poland-news/item/119515-production-irish-polish-coproduction-starring-george-mackay-and-lily-rose-depp-in-production|url-status=live}} Principal photography ended by October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.focusfeatures.com/news/wolf_principal-photography-wrap/|title=Principal Photography Wraps on Wolf|website=focusfeatures.com|date=9 October 2020|access-date=20 February 2021|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118194417/https://www.focusfeatures.com/news/wolf_principal-photography-wrap|url-status=live}}
Release
Focus Features acquired distribution rights excluding Russia, Turkey, Taiwan and the Middle East to the film in October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/focus-buys-wolf-amitabh-bachchan-boards-sci-fi-berlinale-postpones-italy-efm-country-in-focus-global-film-briefs-1234594436/|title=Focus Buys 'Wolf'; Amitabh Bachchan Boards Sci-Fi; Amazon Bolsters India Slate; Berlinale Postpones Italy EFM Country In Focus — Global Film Briefs|website=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Nancy|last1=Tartaglione|first2=Tom|last2=Grater|date=9 October 2020|access-date=9 October 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027014755/https://deadline.com/2020/10/focus-buys-wolf-amitabh-bachchan-boards-sci-fi-berlinale-postpones-italy-efm-country-in-focus-global-film-briefs-1234594436/|url-status=live}} The film had a theatrical release in the U.S. on 3 December 2021,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/wolf-release-date-lily-rose-depp-george-mackay-1234766129/|title=Focus Features Sets December Release For George MacKay & Lily-Rose Depp Genre Pic 'Wolf'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=May 28, 2021|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=May 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528170038/https://deadline.com/2021/05/wolf-release-date-lily-rose-depp-george-mackay-1234766129/|url-status=live}} after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on 17 September 2021 as the entry for Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.scannain.com/irish/abroad/wolf-tiff-2021/|title=Irish film Wolf to world premiere at 2021 Toronto International Film Festival|website=Scannain|date=July 29, 2021|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729152414/https://www.scannain.com/irish/abroad/wolf-tiff-2021/|url-status=live}}
Reception
=Box office=
In the United States and Canada, the film earned $82,640 from 308 theaters in its opening weekend and $15,160 in its second before ending its theatrical run.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W49/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 49|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208163807/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W49/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W50/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 50|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214021424/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W50/|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|45|5.3|74|Despite George MacKay's best efforts, Wolf remains a horror-tinged social allegory that's left to largely chase its own tail.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wolf_2021|title=Wolf (2021)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 13, 2022|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329234906/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wolf_2021|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film has a score of 52 based on 15 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wolf-2021|title=Wolf (2021) Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924202245/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wolf-2021|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|10698174}}
- {{Official website|https://www.focusfeatures.com/wolf}}
- {{YouTube|id=c7tT71ZKIWY|title=WOLF Q&A / TIFF 2021 / The team behind WOLF in conversation with TIFF in advance of its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.}}
Category:2020s psychological drama films
Category:English-language Polish films
Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:2021 independent films