Wolf

Despite the impressive performance at its heart, Wolf's off-putting approach still keeps its audience at a remove.

George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp star in dark fairy tale that handles a real-life condition - believing you're not human - with sensitivity and empathy.

George MacKay's presence and physicality is perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of the film.

But for as much writer/director Biancheri pumps copious ideas into this concept, the solemn tone and lack of thematic focus renders the overwrought outing underwhelming.

What started with a sympathetic gaze promising complexity ultimately succumbs to the messiness of mixed tones and shallow observations, a call of the wild reduced to some tinny, ignorable whimpers.

As the film invites us to ponder the real-world circumstances that it implies, its self-seriousness becomes a double-edged sword.

I am Speechless...

Wolf approaches its potentially preposterous premise with affecting authenticity, drawing painful parallels to terrorized communities today.

It's an intriguing concept that lies on the surface without much meaningful exploration.

I wanted Wolf to commit more fully to the madnesses of its setting and its players, but this is still well worth a look.