Review: Wolf Manor (2023)

Independent films are hard to make, independent horror films – more so.

When a crew embarks on making the latest instalment in a successfully vampire horror franchise, with its returning star (played by James Fleet, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Sense and Sensibility), things start to go wrong, and not just with the production, crew members start disappearing. With a full moon, terrifying circumstances play out with bloody consequences with the local werewolf.

As the film’s Director and Producer attempts to finish the film and impress the journalist that attending the set to review the production, little do they know that their individuals in questions also fall victim to the nightmare that has awaken. As the story unfolds, one by one, each crew member falls victim until there’s only two left standing by the end. Who they are? We shall see.

What the main drawcard for this film is the Werewolf. I’m impressed how good the prosthetics and special effects are, and that also remind me of the old school horror films from the 1980s and 90s, so you can see where Director Dominic Brunt gets his inspiration from. Think a bite of An American Werewolf In London and a chunk of The Howling III.

Overall, Wolf Manor is what it shows, an independent horror film with a basic story.  Would Wolf Manor be a must see for hardcore and dedicated horror fans? Not really, however – if you enjoy the casual nibble into the horror genre, then this would be a bloody delicious bite.

With a comfortable run time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, Wolf Manor does lack a little focus on character building and story, so don’t expect the same flare as you would when seeing – say – a Wes Craven film as an example. While Wolf Manor is a UK production, it would make a decent modern entry into horror ozploitation if it was Australian produced.

This reviewer definitely appreciated the work that went into the production, especially around the effects and lighting. Keep it up!

Wolf Manor – Starring James Fleet, John Henshaw, Jay Taylor and Thaila Zucchi, and directed by Dominic Brunt – out now on Video On Demand (Google TV, Apple TV).

Big thanks to Lightbulb Films and Dead By Dawn Australia for the preview access.