The Wolf House

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.

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 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.

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.