From director Quinn Armstrong comes the second instalment in the Fresh Hell trilogy, Wolves Against The World. Exploring far-right hate and just how difficult it can be to escape and break free from your past, the film centres on former neo-nazi metal drummer Louis (Michael Kunicki) who reunites with his old band mate at the site of their vocalist’s suicide.
Opening with the visual of a man pulling out his own entrails and then transforming into a wolf before sitting down at a drum kit, Wolves Against The World portrays Louis as he attempts to rebuild his life and atone for his past as a member of a hate fuelled neo-nazi doom metal band. Through flashbacks we meet his band mates Anders (played by director Quinn Armstrong) and the insufferable frontman Helvete (Jordan Mullins). After Helvete’s death, Louis meets up with Anders who now inhabits a rural farm and is the founder of a “mens club”. Through attempting to reconnect with his former band mate, as well as seeking some financial respite to remove his massive swastika back tattoo,
Louis discovers that Anders may not have entirely left the fanatical fascist lifestyle behind, and he is soon drawn back into the world of nazi occultism and must fight for his life.
Similar to the first film in the trilogy The Exorcism of Saint Patrick , Wolves Against The World explores dangerous ideologies and how these are then spread by harmful representations of masculinity. Unfortunately, Wolves Against The World doesn’t really go much further than basically introducing us to a terrible doom metal band and its awful members. The metaphorical wolf allegory is lost against the exploration of the remaining bandmates’ dynamic with one another and seems to be more of an afterthought in the last sequence. And despite the strong, gory opening, that level of guts and gore isn’t seen again and feels rather like a let down.
Wolves Against The World revolves around a promising premise, but unfortunately lacks the bite in order to land its message.
1.5 Screams out of 5
Wolves Against The World is now available on demand.
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