A ten-year-old boy comes of age in a way he never imagined in this emotional horror film from director Jacques Molitor.

Elaine Bailly is in a dire situation. Her son Martin has been experiencing changes as he is about to turn ten. He is suspended for attacking one of his classmates. Things take a twisted turn on Martin’s 10^th birthday when he bites one of the kids, whose mother has a rift with Elaine. Elaine decides to take Martin to his late father’s family in a small town in Luxembourg. When the family sees Martin, Elaine explains that Martin is Patrick’s son, and they welcome him with open arms.

The family, led by matriarch Adrienne and patriarch Joseph, know something is going on with Martin. The family comes from a long line of hunters, but not your normal hunting family. Martin is revealed to be coming-of-age quickly as it is discovered he is slowly turning into a werewolf. Elaine has been aware, but now fears the worst as she begins to see the transformation occur. When the family has something in store for Martin, Elaine must attempt to stop the insanity and try to save her son before it’s too late.

This is quite an intriguing movie as it feels like The Howling meets The Invitation. The story of a single mother who fears and yet knows what may be going on with her son takes him to the family farm only to discover something sinister is definitely interesting. The opening scene shows a couple making love in the forest and it is theorized that the woman is our central character Elaine from a decade ago. It is then when the film begins and hits the gut from the beginning.

Louise Manteau is great in the role of Elaine, who is in a relationship with Jean, played by Jules Werner. She cares more about her son Martin, played in an amazing breakout performance by Victor Dieu. Dieu plays Martin as a very troubled kid who doesn’t know what’s wrong with him or why he is succumbing to hurting people around him, notably his classmates.

It is when the duo goes to the Martin’s father’s land that things really start to go insane. It is here where we see Martin begins to transform into a half-man, half-wolf creature. The VFX for the transformation itself is very nicely done along with the practical effects of Martin’s full costume. In one of the most interesting twists, Elaine, still worried about her son, sometimes sees a wolf in the midst who doesn’t attack her but seems to want to protect her if needed. One can only guess who the wolf may be as it is implied but never confirmed. The final act is where things become really intriguing during a dinner to celebrate Martin. This is where it feels like The Invitation in terms of how the story comes together.

Wolfkin is a surprisingly really good werewolf film that can be described as The Howling meets The Invitation. A breakout performance from young Victor Dieu drives the film along with an excellent performance from Louise Manteau as his concerned mother. Definitely a werewolf film like no other.

WFG RATING: A-

Uncork’d Entertainment presents a Les Films Fauves production in association with Novak Production. Director: Jacques Molitor. Producer: Gilles Chanial. Writers: Régine Abadia, Jacques Molitor, and Magali Negroni. Cinematography: Amandine Klee. Editing; Damien Keyeux.

Cast: Louise Manteau, Victor Dieu, Marja-Leena Junker, Jules Werner, Marco Lorenzini, Myriam Muller, Yulia Chernyshkova, Jean-Jacques Rausin, Charles Muller, Benjamin Ramon, Joél Delsaut.