WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW, THE
(director/writer: Jim Cummings; cinematographer: Natalie Kingston; editor: R. Bret Thomas/Patrick Nelson Barnes; music: Ben Lovett ; cast: Jim Cummings (John Marshall), Riki Lindhome (Officer Julia Robson), Robert Forster (Sheriff Hadley), Chloe East (Jenna Marshall ), JimmyTatro (PJ Palfrey), Skyler Bible (Officer Ray Guttierrez), Kelsey Edwards (Liz Fairchild), Annie Hamilton (Brianne); Runtime: 83; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Kathleen Grace/Matt Hoklotubbe/Michael J. McGarry/Natalie Metger/Matt Miller/Benjamin Wiessner; Vanishing Angle/New Form/Orion Classics; 2020)
“Though it’s still mildly entertaining, getting in a few zingers now and then, it’s miles away from reaching Fargo–its ultimate destination.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Jim Cummings (“Thunder Road”) is director/writer/actor of this flawed but watchable horror comedy of a small town sheriff out west hunting werewolves who kill after a full moon. His role as the unlikable and overused star, sucks the air out of the picture (which is not a conventional werewolf one) and stops the capable cast of getting more out of it.
John Marshall (Jim Cummings) is a divorced, recovering alcoholic, filled with issues of anger-management, anxiety and guilt, attempting to run Utah’s Snow Hollow sheriff’s department while the actual sheriff, John’s violence adverse elderly father (Robert Forster, in his final film), tries to hide a heart ailment.
Things become tense when a woman tourist is found mutilated, while her boyfriend (JimmyTatro) is initially missing. The forensic experts say a giant animal is the possible killer, and a cop says it must be werewolves. This leaves John enraged, and going into a comical twitchy fit. While his colleague Julia Robson (Riki Lindhome), with a good instinct for comedy, acts professional and calmly looks for clues. During the full-moon cycle, every night a new corpse turns up as do more clues.
The story veers between the crimes (committed off-camera) and the regular police business. With the competent officer Julia standing by her unhinged male boss until he figures things out.
This film is not as good as Cummings’ debut, as it lacks that film’s frantic but credible comedy. Though it’s still mildly entertaining, getting in a few zingers now and then, it’s miles away from reaching Fargo–its ultimate destination.
REVIEWED ON 10/12/2020 GRADE: B-