Simply amazing! I cannot imagine how much work these guys had making this film. Additionally, it is super disturbing and creepy. Some moments are even scary!
Plot summary
Once upon a time - in the heart of the 20th century - there was a remote and secretive colony ensconced within central Chile from which nobody could escape...while Colonia Dignidad was known for its sweet honey, surrounding communities whispered of numerous, rumored atrocities committed within the reinforced boundaries of the commune. Conceived and tyrannically run by former Nazi Paul Schäfer, Colonia's covert activities ranged from politically sanctioned torture - on behalf of Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship - to Schäfer's personally orchestrated crimes against the children of Colonia. Inspired by a reported case, THE WOLF HOUSE testifies on behalf of semi-fictionalized Colonia captive Maria, a young German girl punished for releasing two beloved pigs. Maria escapes with her 'children' and finds false refuge within a supernaturally sentient house with the capacity to betray Colonia Dignidad's infamous legacy.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
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Should have been nominated and won an Oscar
A sly folk tale told in a way unlike any other
The feature is realized with 2-D animation, stop-motion animation, and a combination of the two, using a variety of media, with somewhat inherently disconcerting, uneven camerawork. This distinct myriad style is itself extremely noteworthy, and enough to absolutely set 'The wolf house' apart from most any film that immediately comes to mind. More than that, it's the most emphatically noteworthy aspect of the movie, and enough by itself to make this worth watching. 'The wolf house' is utterly captivating for the mere fact of its craft. Factor in the way that scenes are constructed or deconstructed as we watch them unfold, and we gain another level of disquiet, without yet even considering the narrative. Moreover, the amount of visual detail that is imparted in this manner is rather astounding. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that this is truly extraordinary, in the most fundamental sense of the word.
'The wolf house' is a visual wonderland. The plot, such as it is, is light, and develops ever so gradually at its own leisure, but is intriguing. Told within an overarching narrative framework, this is perhaps best described as a folk tale, with a sense of dark fantasy about it. Most of the story moseys along with passing events that are eye-catching and hold our attention, though they may not be wholly grabbing. At long length some expressly unsettling events transpire before the tale concludes with what seems like a happy ending of the sort that we sometimes expect from fairy tales. And yet - to read of the inspiration for the film, and to educate ourselves to a small extent, adds another, more profound layer to the saga before us, and to that conclusion especially. Without betraying any spoilers, let it suffice to say that as one ponders more heavily what it was that protagonist Maria ran away from before finding the titular abode, a deeply understated sense of horror begins to develop about the exact course of events in the feature.
I think it probably goes without saying, but by no means is this going to be for everyone. Twenty minutes after I finished watching I had a stronger regard for it than I did when I first finished, and as I ruminate more on what I've watched I'm pretty sure my opinion will strengthen further. Yet even as I immediately fell in love with the imagery, my first thought as to the content was "so what." I won't begrudge anyone who views 'The wolf house' and doesn't like it; this is a feature for only the most patient and open-minded of viewers. I did use the terms "horror" and "dark fantasy" earlier, but the latter is simply flavor, and the latter is more thematic than concrete, and wholly up to personal interpretation at that.
If nothing else, this much is true: this film is a painstaking labor of love, a feature years in the making with an unparalleled visual style. The grand effort alone makes it worth watching as far as I'm concerned, nevermind that it paid off, a feat that also helps to wash over a deficiency of storytelling. I think the narrative is strong, but it's a mistake to look to any particular genre label to help guide one's viewership here. Moreover, the very simplicity of it also leaves me marginally uncertain, and that the boost of outside context does so much to help solidify the tale also perhaps reflects poorly on the writing. Still, when all is said and done, I enjoy this so much more than I don't, and I'll absolutely be thinking on it for a long time to come. 'The wolf house' is both a great curiosity and a visual feast, and if you're receptive to all the wide variety of content that cinema has to offer, this is an absolute treat.
One Positive
Positive: The production crew spent a lot of time focused on their stop motion animation with confusing but interesting results. Negatives: The storyline is very obscure. Is it a horror adaptation using fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs; Little Red Riding Hood; Hansel & Gretel as the vehicle? Or, is it about Paul Schafer's commune in Chili where mistreatment of followers & extreme illegal activities took place? Read a wiki review of his activities. The explanation booklet (and one is needed) was red colored font on light red background; very difficult to read - dumb, and shows a further lack of caring for the viewers. The special features where they talk about the film was entirely on filming technique and not explaining the story. If Shafer's horrific activities were the main plot point it would have been far more impactful, interesting & informative to simply document his life.