THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW

Robert Forster

THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW (2020). Written and directed by Jim Cummins. 

John Marshall (Jim Cummins) of the Sheriff's department of Snow Hollow, Utah, has his hands full. Women are being horribly murdered and mutilated, and while he's convinced the perpetrator is human, his fellow officers think a werewolf is on the loose. His father, Sheriff Hadley (Robert Forster), refuses to retire when his heart condition may possibly kill him. And John's ex-wife and daughter are giving him problems. To make matters worse, he is an alcoholic who has fallen off the wagon, and a self-described "asshole."

Riki Lindhome and Jim Cummins

That is the biggest problem with The Wolf of Snow Hollow. Not only is the "hero" a semi-drunken jackass, he comes off manic, mentally-disturbed, and completely unable to function as a sheriff. To make matters worse, Jim Cummins' performance -- he also wrote and directed the picture -- is so awful and over-the-top that it all but ruins the movie. Cummins should either have cast someone else in the main role, or hired another director who would, hopefully, reign him in. His off-putting style might be appropriate for a Porky's style teen comedy, but not for a horror film, even one that is a bit on the "lighter side." There have been screwed-up sheriffs in thrillers before, but the one in this flick is way too much. 

There's another problem. Some filmmakers have the finesse to handle laughs and scares (as in the Scream movies) with a certain flair, but that is not the case with Cummins. Also, horror films have never been the most "tasteful" genre, but is it necessary for us to learn that the first victim had her vagina carried off (deputies later make a joke about this). This is especially strange as Cummins' script has the sensitivity to have P. J., the first victim's boyfriend (Jimmy Tatro, who should have been the lead), get angry at a minor character saying "faggot" (apparently P.J's brother is gay).  It is also never explained how the killer has the strength to literally tear someone apart. Other notable cast members, besides Forster in his next-to-last role, include Riki Lindhomme as a deputy and Will Madden as Paul Carnury. The shame of it is that the movie has some interesting elements and some well-staged action scenes, but the presence of the hysterical and irritating Cummins just about strips it of major entertainment value.

Verdict: Cummins should never direct Cummins. **1/4.