The tone of Alma & the Wolf is not so much a slow burn, but simmering, weaving, roiling lava bubbling just below the surface, leaving the audience with varying emotions by the final frame. And whether it’s horror, heartbreak, or confusion, we can all acknowledge that any film that solicits emotion is a success.

Alma & the Wolf, written by Abigail Miller and directed by Michael Patrick Jann (Drop Dead Gorgeous, Organ Trail),stars low-key horror king Ethan Embry (The Devil’s Candy, Late Phases, Cheap Thrills) as Ren, the deputy of a small coastal town who is tasked by the troubled town mess Alma (Li Jun Li, Sinners) to track and destroy the wolf that killed her dog. Doubtful of the validity of her claim, Ren agrees to help her, and his resolve is strengthened after his son (Lukas Jann) goes missing near where the wolf was last seen.

Despite its smaller budget, Alma & the Wolf is elevated by a phenomenal cast, a stunning setting (shot in Pacific City in my home state of Oregon), noteworthy practical and digital effects, and a creature design that I absolutely adored. There is a surreal element to the narrative, combined with well-utilized gore and mayhem, that allows the audience to revel in the visceral imagery while connecting to a story that is as tragic as it is terrifying.

I was happy to have the opportunity to meet Embry at the Pacific Northwest premiere of the film that opened the 10^th Annual Portland Horror Film Festival. His enthusiasm and love for film was a joy to witness, and during his Q&A, Embry was met with raucous cheers after stating the truest truth every horror fan knows in our dark little hearts – Film is the greatest form of art, and horror is the greatest form of film.

Alma & the Wolf is out now on VOD and in certain theaters, and I was thrilled to be able to sit down with director Michael P Jann to talk about this film, why it’s still so important to watch films in the big theater, the sacrifices filmmakers make to be able to tell the story they want, and so much more. Check out the video below, watch the film, and tell me what you think!

Rating: 💀 💀 💀 💀 /5