The Wolf House

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.