User reviews

This is a very artsy film that went all in on the visuals. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of the narrative. There will be some viewers who will enjoy this film for the animation alone, and it is a towering achievement, an art installation come to life. It is atmospheric and haunting, and many viewers will compare it to a nightmare. I personally wanted more story to go along with the incredible sights. They used many mediums to achieve the animation, but much of it involved what looked like paint to create characters and objects, then simulating motion by painting over that. Apparently, this is inspired by true events that occurred in a German cult located in Chile. Trying to describe this movie is like describing music--putting it into words will never be the same as experiencing it.

One of the most amazing pieces of stop motion I've ever seen. I've not seen the like since the works Bruce Bickford. I can't even imagine how much time and dedication this took. In terms of the plot it's...confusing? I admit I didn't really get it. It's not really a horror movie, it's unsettling and surreal like a David Lynch movie. It definitely makes you feel like something awful is going to happen, but it never really does. That said, I'd recommend it to anyone on technical brilliance alone.

A lot of work went into this. That's something you notice right away.

Incredible visuals thanks to a craftsman's work, "La Casa Lobo" ("The Wolf House") enraptures us in a seemingly interminable nightmare, full of transitions and man-pigs. Weird, disturbing, interesting, breathtaking.

Recommended. Fantastic piece of stop-motion/animation(?

One of the darkest, creepiest & genuinely unnerving films to grace the medium of animation, The Wolf House (La casa lobo) is a powerhouse of endless imagination, persevering vision & top-notch execution that employs its stop-motion animation technique in ways that's equally unique & nightmarish, and offers a cinematic ride that's as surreal as it is disquieting.

Directed by Christobal León & Joaquín Cocina, the story takes its inspiration from an infamous & disturbing slice of Chilean history and unfolds like a fairy tale. But if one isn't familiar with the historical context in play here, then events may seem confusing & frustrating. Still, the uneasy vibe & foreboding aura this chiller brims with ultimately makes sure that the viewers don't leave the scene.

The most impressive thing about this Chilean horror is the stop-motion animation itself. The set pieces & characters constantly deconstruct, reconstruct & transform while the camera remains in perpetual motion, thus giving the film an appearance of a single take perspective. The visuals are distinct & uncanny to look at and with further assistance from its haunting soundscapes, it amplifies the film's dreamlike, vivid quality.

Overall, The Wolf House is no doubt an impressive feat of animation filmmaking as it renders its scenes in ways that's simultaneously fresh & freakish and blends true life, propaganda & fairy tale into a wicked tool for indoctrination. But it can also be overwhelming for some as there's plenty to unpack & absorb here, given its multitudes of layers & ever changing visuals. In short, this Chilean horror will fare better with arthouse enthusiasts than mainstream filmgoers.

It's miraculous to watch a film that you started watching with little to no expectations, only to come out feeling influenced, your heart is in awe, while your mind reels.

I feel that it would be doing the film a disservice by simply comparing the film to a dream, yes that was the aim, and it is effective due to this. But not only is it a great dream, it's a dream you don't want to wake up from. It's a fantastic experience.

But most importantly, La Casa Lobo is the most imaginatively satisfying animation I've seen.

Prepare to be in awe at the pure insane creativity spun out before you, every set-piece is a work of Art. This may even be one of my favourite animated films.

You may not feel the same, although it's hard to ignore such an astounding craft.

The feature is realized with 2-D animation, stop-motion animation, and a combination of the two, using a variety of media, with somewhat inherently disconcerting, uneven camerawork. This distinct myriad style is itself extremely noteworthy, and enough to absolutely set 'The wolf house' apart from most any film that immediately comes to mind. More than that, it's the most emphatically noteworthy aspect of the movie, and enough by itself to make this worth watching. 'The wolf house' is utterly captivating for the mere fact of its craft. Factor in the way that scenes are constructed or deconstructed as we watch them unfold, and we gain another level of disquiet, without yet even considering the narrative. Moreover, the amount of visual detail that is imparted in this manner is rather astounding. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that this is truly extraordinary, in the most fundamental sense of the word.

'The wolf house' is a visual wonderland. The plot, such as it is, is light, and develops ever so gradually at its own leisure, but is intriguing. Told within an overarching narrative framework, this is perhaps best described as a folk tale, with a sense of dark fantasy about it. Most of the story moseys along with passing events that are eye-catching and hold our attention, though they may not be wholly grabbing. At long length some expressly unsettling events transpire before the tale concludes with what seems like a happy ending of the sort that we sometimes expect from fairy tales. And yet - to read of the inspiration for the film, and to educate ourselves to a small extent, adds another, more profound layer to the saga before us, and to that conclusion especially. Without betraying any spoilers, let it suffice to say that as one ponders more heavily what it was that protagonist Maria ran away from before finding the titular abode, a deeply understated sense of horror begins to develop about the exact course of events in the feature.

I think it probably goes without saying, but by no means is this going to be for everyone. Twenty minutes after I finished watching I had a stronger regard for it than I did when I first finished, and as I ruminate more on what I've watched I'm pretty sure my opinion will strengthen further. Yet even as I immediately fell in love with the imagery, my first thought as to the content was "so what." I won't begrudge anyone who views 'The wolf house' and doesn't like it; this is a feature for only the most patient and open-minded of viewers. I did use the terms "horror" and "dark fantasy" earlier, but the latter is simply flavor, and the former is more thematic than concrete, and wholly up to personal interpretation at that.

If nothing else, this much is true: this film is a painstaking labor of love, a feature years in the making with an unparalleled visual style. The grand effort alone makes it worth watching as far as I'm concerned, nevermind that it paid off, a feat that also helps to wash over a deficiency of storytelling. I think the narrative is strong, but it's a mistake to look to any particular genre label to help guide one's viewership here. Moreover, the very simplicity of it also leaves me marginally uncertain, and that the boost of outside context does so much to help solidify the tale also perhaps reflects poorly on the writing. Still, when all is said and done, I enjoy this so much more than I don't, and I'll absolutely be thinking on it for a long time to come. 'The wolf house' is both a great curiosity and a visual feast, and if you're receptive to all the wide variety of content that cinema has to offer, this is an absolute treat.

The title of this review is a quote from one of my all-time favorite games. That game being "Knock-Knock," developed by Ice-Pick Lodge. And in a way, "The Wolf House" reminds me of "Knock-Knock," as It's a film encapsulated by surreal imagery and disturbing subject matter just as "Knock-Knock" is. But, unlike the game, the film's, technically impressive and surrealist style is only engrossing to an extent, after which it soon becomes boring and shows that their isn't much else happening in the movie when it comes to a narrative. If the film had made more of an effort to tell a compelling story along with showing off It's art style, I'm certain I would have enjoyed it much more.

Simply amazing! I cannot imagine how much work these guys had making this film. Additionally, it is super disturbing and creepy. Some moments are even scary!

The outstanding craftsmanship involved in one of the most mesmerizing animated films I have ever seen, in conjunction with a complex and invigorating narrative present one of the most intriguing films I have seen this year. Its a little to intricate for my liking, and although I dont believe I fully understand its vision, I really appreciate the work and passion put behind its creation.

8.5/10.

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. Stop-motion is generally a cool medium, but "The Wolf House" takes it to a whole new level. The film comprises of wall paintings and rough models, that morph into each other throughout the film. As the camera moves, the set around it changes. The wall colour changes, furniture moves around, etc. Its so visually striking that you can't take your eyes of it. It took 5 years to make, and I can see why. Everything is so detailed. They could have made it easy for themselves, but instead went as far as possible to make an incredible film. The jolty camera and rough models make the film very eerie to watch. Despite not having any jump scares or violence, it is very grotesque and terrifying. On top of that the dialogue is chilling. The characters whisper into your ear, it literally gave me chills. I'd say use headphones or surround sound speakers to watch this, cause hearing the dialogue like it's coming from a person whispering into your ear really adds to the experience. Story wise, it's very weird. There's obviously a hidden meaning behind, buts It's not very clear. The dialogue is very ambiguous at times so don't worry if you're not getting the story, this films more about the visuals.

Full review on my blog max4movies: La Casa Lobo (international title: The Wolf House) is basically an animated dark fairy tale that achieves a wonderfully haunting atmosphere due to the unique and disturbing animation. It's an art movie in the truest sense of the word and the art direction - namely stop-motion animation with three-dimensional paintings and papier mâché characters - is stunning. While the characters remain mostly vague and the plot cryptic at best, the dreamlike quality and eerie atmosphere really take the crown. All in all, La Casa Lobo feels like you're watching a slowly evolving nightmare that, although it's not entirely yours, is still terrifyingly creepy.

When you're in electric age and watch a movie in the same age but it looks like 70's animated movie , with an incredible story , i will tell you to watch this movie as soon as possible , because it maybe win an Oscar !!!

Using stop motion animation Chillean directors Joaquin Cociña, Cristóbal León tells a dark and menacing fable underscoring the events of and mentality behind Paul Shäfer Schneider's Colonia Dignidad. No other movie has dealt with "cult mentality" in this manner. Various fables are weaved together using stop motion in a number of formats (including 2D drawing, paper mâché, dolls etc), each format is carefully used to in real time unfold a deeper meaning associated with the use. Truly a unique work of art.

Some of the most impressive stop animation and creepy whispered dialogue throughout the movie got old real quick. Tried to finish but finally shut it down two thirds into the movie.

Should have been a film short or music video.

------------------------------ My IMDb ratings 1 Deliberately botched 2 I don't want to see it 3 I FF'd through it 4 Bad 5 I don't get it 6 Good 7 Great but with a major flaw 8 Great 9 Noir with moral 10 Inspiring with moral.

If you're like me you might not always know what's going on exactly, but what is immediately apparent and consistent throughout is the tense, eerie atmosphere, and the creepy visuals that are excellently conveyed thanks to the film's sound design, music, and it's incredibly unique stop-motion animation.

A simple story of a woman escaping a cult and hiding in a house somewhere in a forest becomes intensely psychological and extremely surreal very quickly. The presentation and the short runtime ensures it's just about always captivating, and words can't describe how impressive and creepy the animation is.

Worth watching from a technical perspective alone, it also feels like the kind of movie where a lot's going on under the surface (I spotted a couple of interesting things going on in the background here and there), and it's something I'm probably going to have a hard time forgetting.

Would've been perfect for October, but hey, November deserves to have some creepy films watched throughout it too.

One of the most terrifying and unsettling animated films that I had ever watched. Purely original and almost makes you feel frightened the first time that you are immersed in this story.

It's hard to imagine a more horrifying nexus of evil than ex-Nazis in cahoots with a brutal fascist regime systematically torturing dissidents and sexually abusing children, but that's the basis for this animated film. It's an incredible marvel in restraint in how obliquely it approaches this topic, but I have to believe that to the people of Chile, the references were clear. The trauma in a girl who has escaped from the stand-in for the Colonia Dignidad, here described as an idyllic enclave of German immigrants, is revealed in surreal imagery that's claustrophobic, dark, and eerie. No violence is ever shown, but the visions are nightmarish, and must represent the nightmares of a nation over this painful period, as well as the potential for cycles of abuse (the girl begins terrorizing a couple of pigs who turn into small children). This background combined with highly artistic and creative animation makes for a powerful film.

This Movie is beautiful. The stop motion is executed exquisitely and the characters are well rounded. Never once during this movie was I bored. The Style choices made for this film could not have been better. I think this story in another format would be awful, not because its a bad story but only hand crafted art can properly portray the emotions meant to be shown. Every detail in every scene is clearly well thought out and with a purpose. This movie unlocked a whole new subsection of horror for me and I love it. Please give this movie a chance as any seasoned horror lover will see the macabre beauty this film has to offer.

Positive: The production crew spent a lot of time focused on their stop motion animation with confusing but interesting results. Negatives: The storyline is very obscure. Is it a horror adaptation using fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs; Little Red Riding Hood; Hansel & Gretel as the vehicle? Or, is it about Paul Schafer's commune in Chili where mistreatment of followers & extreme illegal activities took place? Read a wiki review of his activities. The explanation booklet (and one is needed) was red colored font on light red background; very difficult to read - dumb, and shows a further lack of caring for the viewers. The special features where they talk about the film was entirely on filming technique and not explaining the story. If Shafer's horrific activities were the main plot point it would have been far more impactful, interesting & informative to simply document his life.

If Max Payne Trilogy was my favorite Psychological Thriller Video Game that I have ever played, La Casa Lobo was my favorite Psychological Horror film that I have ever watched, the film followed a Young German Girl who fled from Sexual Abuse in the German Colony in Chile, and hiding in the Hut. Still, this thing was hell; I know this movie was Uncanny and Disturbing. It details the Atrocities of the Pinochet Regime and how the director can use this movie to show how dangerous the Pinochet regime is. I love how the movie uses Two Languages, Spanish and German, which is why I loved this film because it was beautiful.

You know jaw-dropping is supposed to be an expression... For me it was literal during the whole movie!

I've never seen this kind of stop-motion. The images plus the sound adjust perfectly to the horror and weirdness of this german fairy tales.

It's not perfect on storytelling, but it deserves its 5 stars for me! Just bravo to the team for their work. Amateur of creativity, you have to see this animation!