Monsterwolf is a 2010 Syfy original television film directed by Todor Chapkanov and stars Leonor Varela, Robert Picardo, and Marc Macaulay. An oil rig crew drills in a Louisiana community where they awaken an ancient and terrifying wolf-like beast sworn to protect the ecological balance of its environment - and kill anyone who threatens it. The film was part of Syfy's 31 Days of Halloween 2010 and premiered on Syfy October 9, 2010.

Monsterwolf
GenreHorror
Written byCharles Bolon
Directed byTodor Chapkanov
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
  • Kenneth M. Badish
  • Daniel Lewis
CinematographyLorenzo Senatore
EditorMatt Taylor
Running time90 minutes
Production companyBullet Films
Budget$1.5 million[1]
Original release
NetworkSyfy
ReleaseOctober 9, 2010 (2010-10-09)

Premise

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In the small Southern town of Crowley, Louisiana, a group of people who represent an oil company find a new place to drill. However, they stumble upon a type of Native American shrine. They call upon their boss Stark (Robert Picardo) of Holter ex oil inc. He gives them permission to blow it up. When they set off an explosion, it unleashes a wolf-like creature that savagely kills all the workers. The following day, the dead men are discovered by Sheriff Bennet (Marc Macaulay). The ME is unsure what to make of it or even what killed them.

Meanwhile, Stark tries to negotiate with tribal Indian chief Turner (Steve Reevis) to let his company drill on their land, but Turner refuses. A New York defense lawyer, Maria Bennett (Leonor Varela), comes back after three years to represent Stark.

Cast

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Reception

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Critical reception was negative.[2][3] Dread Central rated the movie at 2 1/2 out of 5 blades, calling it "a fairly straightforward cliché-a-thon that wraps itself up in highly convenient third act character revelation that sure comes in handy when trying to send an eco-terrorist wolf monster back to its spiritual nature preserve. It’s also pretty watchable. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it pretty good, but it is certainly watchable in a nothing-better-on Saturday afternoon matinee sort of way."[4] TV Spielfilm was ambivalent in their rating.[5]

Curt Wagner for the Chicago Tribune panned Monsterwolf, criticizing it as "so bad it sucks - and it's not even about vampires!"[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Monsterwolf" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Davies, Clive (2015-03-06). Spinegrinder: The Movies Most Critics Won't Write About. SCB Distributors. ISBN 978-1-909394-06-3.
  3. ^ Senn, Bryan (2017-02-06). The Werewolf Filmography: 300+ Movies. McFarland. p. 322. ISBN 978-1-4766-2691-8.
  4. ^ "Monster Wolf (2010)". Dread Central. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  5. ^ "Monster Wolf - Filmkritik - Film - TV SPIELFILM". TV Spielfilm Online (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  6. ^ Wagner, Curt (October 8, 2010). "Love it, like it, loathe it". Chicago Tribune.
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