Dark Wolf (2003)

A Major Disappointment

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

For a thriller its really good. The plot is very good and could go into extensive detail but gently glosses over to the main bits. Which can give the viewers something to think about in werewolf lore. The sets are very well put together for a common thriller. The erotic scenes aren't too bad, the dance was kid of mesmerizing. Though the sounds are way over dramatized.The only thing I believe would have made this movie even better would have been the actors. Most appeared to be amateurs with such promise. Despite the faults I really enjoyed this movie. I'm a werewolf fan and this gave a different take on the typical werewolf movie.

This may be the worst movie I've ever seen and I've seen Gigli, Glitter and Battlefield Earth! The effects the worst I've ever seen. The storyline was ridiculous and the acting was worse than a 3rd grade play. What the hell was the point? Was I scared? No. Was I entertained? NO. Why did I waste precious minutes of my life watching this crap?! There were so many questions and plot holes but I don't even want to get into it, I don't care enough to bother. My only hope is that this review will save one person the horror of having to sit through this movie. ******SPOILER ALERT******** This movie sucks.

A vicious werewolf (stuntman Rick McCallum in a nifty fur suit) stalks the streets of Los Angeles in search of sweet and unsuspecting part-time waitress Josie (a strong and sympathetic performance by the fetching Samaire Armstrong) so he can mate with her and bring about the end of mankind. It's up to determined, no-nonsense detective Steve Turley (well played Ryan Alosio) to protect Josie from this savage beast. Director Richard Friedman, working from a trashy and eventful script by Geoffrey Alan Holliday, keeps the pace hurtling along at a constant breakneck clip, wrings a good deal of pulse-pounding tension from the absorbing premise, and stages the plentiful action with considerable brio. Better still, Friedman delivers both a generous sprinkling of nasty gore and a pleasing abundance of tasty female nudity (a lesbian rooftop modeling session involving two gorgeous naked babes rates as the definite erotic highlight). This film further benefits from solid acting from an attractive and appealing cast: Armstrong and Alosio make for excellent and engaging leads, the ever-imposing Kane Hodder cuts a suitably intimidating figure as the human biker guy incarnation of the werewolf, Tippi Hedren has a nice, although small role as wise homeless woman Mary, plus there's fine supporting turns by Andrea Bogart as the sassy Stacey, Jaime Bergman as Turley's feisty partner McGowan, Alexis Cruz as prissy make-up artist Miguel, Aaron Van Wagner as Josie's jealous, insecure boyfriend Tom, Sasha Williams as luscious model Anna, and Beau Clark as hip punk photographer Wayne. The werewolf design is impressively fierce and fearsome. Stuart Asbjornsen's agile cinematography gives the movie a cool glossy look. Geoff Levin's throbbing score does the shuddery trick. Only the shoddy CGI effects fail to earn a passing grade. Overall, this flick sizes up as perfectly entertaining and undemanding Grade B junk.

Another in a long line of flicks made by people who think that knowing how to operate a camera is the same as telling a story. Within 15 minutes, the entire premise is laid out in just a few lines, so there is absolutely no mystery, which eliminates a whole facet of the suspense. The only half-way competent actor is killed 10 minutes into the film, so we're left with stupid characters running around doing stupid things. Low budget films can't afford expensive special effects, so the CGI portions are unsurprisingly unimpressive, but were at least a valid attempt. The creature suit is terrible, as seen when it falls to the sidewalk, and the director keeps emphasizing the eyes, which aren't even the red color shown in mirror shots. The dialogue is clumsy and uninspired, with some lines reminiscent of Aliens or Terminator. The last action sequence takes place in a police station, also a rip-off from Terminator, with everyone hiding in the one glass lined office that the Darkwolf doesn't smash into. In the end, the girl calls the hero "a good Protector", but he gets both his partners, the original Protector, and at least three other civilians, not to mention a dozen cops, all killed without getting a decent shot off, in spite of an arsenal of silver bullets and a submachine gun. But here's the real clincher for bad writing: They could have killed the beast right after the beginning credits when it was holding the stripper while flashing its red eyes. Instead, they took it into custody?!?