Director: Lowell Dean
Cast: Leo Fafard, Amy Matysio, Jonathan Cherry, Sarah Lind, Aidan Devine, Jesse Moss, Corinne Conley, James Whittingham.
Certificate: 18.
Running Time: 78 minutes.
Synopsis: An alcoholic cop in a small town becomes a werewolf. He sets about using his super strength, super smell, and super hearing, to right the wrongs in his town, only to discover a greater conspiracy.
To be filed away with the likes of SHARKNADO and SNAKES ON A PLANE, WOLFCOP is one of those delightful B-movies which tells you everything you need to know in the title. This is a werewolf film with tongue planted firmly in cheek (probably to avoid biting) that sees a messy alcoholic cop in a small town become the titular WOLFCOP. It’s low-budget, it’s short, and it’s also imaginative and a hell of a lot of fun.
The humour isn’t straight out comedy, but rather it evolves from a sense of knowing and nudge-nudge wink-winking that some people may be tired of. What people certainly wont be tired by is the exceptional use of practical effects. Werewolf movies are known for their transformation scenes and WOLFCOP uses great make-up, textured rubber, goo, and magical editing to make sure such sequences are both grotesque and entertaining. Could this be the first werewolf movie that addresses the adaptation of a certain part of the male anatomy during a full moon?
The plot does a fair amount in its short running time. This isn’t just a case of a man adapting to his new form. Unlike a lot of werewolf movies the lead is usually very conscious of his actions, making this more of a twisted superhero tale. As the mystery plot unravels it becomes clear that the creators were more ambitious than they needed to be, essentially creating a world where we may see more adventures in the future.
In addition to old school effects, we’re also treated to an 80s look and sound. The music plays a large part in landscaping the world of WOLFCOP, including songs well matched to certain scenes, especially a sex sequence ripped straight from an 80s cop film which includes a power ballad and plenty of tracking shots.
Leading the pack is Leo Fafard as the titular hero. For a man whose credits mainly consist of being a ‘generator operator’, according to IMDb, Fafard has a strict and gruff charisma that plays well during his sombre moments. He also brings about a stubbled enthused 80s charm that has become lost in a sea of pinup stars. There are times when he seems to have trouble spitting out lines through his wolfy dentures, but other than that he conveys the range of emotions well and is refreshingly believable in his human form.
WOLFCOP is as silly as you would imagine, but it does silly right. The cast and script know exactly when to make a joke and when to play it seriously. This can’t be a completely passive experience though, and if you are already put off by the title then don’t expect your mind to be changed. For those who completely resign to the audacity and confidence of Lowell Dean and crew, you’ll be howling with laughter at the absurdity of it all.
[usr=3]WOLFCOP is released in cinemas 12th September
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