Hey gang, Valkor here. And I’m not about to let one film with a super creepy clown aka "All Hallows' Eve scare me away from all good things horror. If one film gives you the creeps, ya just have to get right back on that horror band wagon. And… ah shit, it’s another “found footage” deal. The film is called Raised by Wolves; these types of films don’t always turn out all that great, but when they are good, they’re just too good! Let’s see if this one can rank high enough to be in the latter category.
Raised by Wolves follows a group of friends looking to get their party on – wanting to get their skate on, smoke some bud and throwing back some brews whilst recording their entire adventure. They discuss a ranch way out in the boonies called the Plainsong Farm that’s supposed to have a bad ass empty pool they can skate, but it has a gruesome history to it. The complex was owned by a guy named Ernest Plainsong who ran a cult that included followers from the local Indian reservation. Back in 73, Ernest proclaimed that he had the ability to see demons in folks, so he made up a list and ordered his followers to kill off these people. Unfortunately for him and his cult, some of the members also proclaimed they too had the ability and a massacre at the ranch occurred, which included the death of Plainsong. Back to our teens, when they arrive at the ranch, they do find an awesome empty pool that’s perfect for the dudes to show off their skater moves. But at one point whilst the camera kid was filming the group, he noticed just behind them a mysterious guy, who quickly vanished. Could it have been the ghost of Ernest Plainsong? Well the group is about to find out as they further explore the ranch and become involved in a series of unfortunate events involving ghostly apparitions and possession, which could lead up to their demise.
I will say one thing about Raised by Wolves. It features the most realistic camera I’ve seen in these types of film. And by that I mean the battery actually runs dead – twice! That’s the one thing that pissed me off the most about films like Cloverfield its 24 hour, non-stop camera. Fuck that camera!
The Good:
Raised by Wolves isn’t such a bad film - it’s actually a pretty decent horror; its paint by the numbers and it isn’t anything you haven’t seen before, especially if you’re used to watching these types of films (and believe me, I am). Still, you get some quality scares here created with the blend of location of the ranch (very desolate looking and the added creepiness of a place that was once lived in), simple yet effective special effects and a frantic build up that leads to a bitter end (so to speak) for our young teens. The acting is a little over the top – no, a lot over the top, but it’s not completely distracting and if you can look past it then you’re in for a fun ride with this one. Finally, the women are definitely pleasing to the eyes... up until they start to get bloodied up. When I first saw that Raised by Wolves was going to be a found footage film, I was all but ready to give it the hammer of FAIL. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and in the end we’re given another quality horror film that’s perfect late night enjoyment.
The Bad:
Again that acting, it’s not the greatest and it can get eyerolling at times, especially with the guys who seem to be hyped up with testosterone. But what will really stop folks short of finishing the film is the amount of shaky cam Raised by Wolves has – which is to say it has a lot! The camera is pretty much always in motion either following along with the action or spinning around - it can get crazy and might make those who have motion sickness rather queasy. To me, it adds a sense of realism to the film, but I think it should have been toned down a bit.
The Ugly:
Not a lot of blood or gore, but watching a kid get a thick stick to the chest will make anyone cringe.
Raised by Wolves doesn’t have a US release yet, but expect it soon as this is one film that shouldn’t be missed. Even though it’s been there, done that it’s still a creepy yet entertaining slice of horror that you wouldn’t want to pass up. And out of TOV 5 stars, I give Raised by Wolves a 3.5.
