“The Wolf of Snow Hollow” is the type of horror movie that reminds genre fans why they love the genre in the first place. Arriving seemingly out of nowhere, the movie has a nice balance between horror and comedy: The laughs are largely prioritized (thanks mostly to actor-writer-director Jim Cummings, whose lead performance strikes a nice balance between flawed hero and comic relief), but the scares are strong too. The werewolf attack scenes are nicely shot, with shadows and camera movement providing most of the cover for the limited budget, while the score manages to underline the imminent threat possible at almost all times for the characters and provide cues for its enthralled audience. The climax makes a number of interesting choices that impact the movie’s narrative and provides revelations that change the dynamics among the characters, and while it’s not exactly unpredictable it’s still thrilling to watch it unfold. Ultimately it’s a strong effort all around by Cummings and he’s well-surrounded by a strong supporting cast (including a weary-but-engaged Robert Forster, who passed before the movie’s release), and he establishes himself as a talent to watch both in front of and behind the camera.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
