WolfCop (Canada, 2014)

My first few picks this month have been relatively serious films, so it felt about time for something schlocky. From the snippets I’d heard about WolfCop, it seemed to fit the bill. I had no idea if it would actually be any good, but, honestly, I do try to pick a few films every year that I probably won’t like just so my reviews won’t all be positive. Pain builds character.

Happily, or maybe unhappily, WolfCop turned out to be pretty good. I’ll have to hope that some of my other picks suck.

WolfCop is currently streaming on StudioCanal in the UK.

Synopsis

Lou Garou (the name alone tells you what kind of film you’re in for) is a cop, and not a very good one. He divides his time between drinking on the job and disappointing his colleagues. All this changes, however, when he investigates some weirdness in the woods and stumbles into the midst of a ritual human sacrifice. Failing to stop save the victim, Garou is knocked out, waking up the following day with a bloody great pentagram carved on his stomach.

This marks the start of a series of changes for Garou, who develops sharper senses, a supernatural ability to heal wounds, and, perhaps strangest of all, a work ethic. All of this culminates in his lycanthropic transformation into some kind of wolf that’s also a cop. There should be a name for that.

Garou uses his new wolfish powers to fight crime, although not always in the most responsible of ways, and he becomes emmeshed in the ancient occult conspiracy that has dogged his town since its inception. But just how is all of this connected to Garou becoming a werewolf? Who is behind the sudden explosion of violent crime in this once sleepy town? And will all of this carnage get in the way of the annual local Drink’n’Shoot?

General Thoughts

WolfCop is a rude, crude, and weirdly horny film. I wasn’t expecting Garou’s first transformation to begin with his penis, but maybe I should have. There is also a sex scene with Garou in wolf form that is just the right kind of batshit crazy. Honestly, my only complaint is that they didn’t work a “doggy style” joke in there somewhere.

Garou is the kind of alcoholic you only see in comedies. He is a problem drinker, and it is fucking up his life, but once he becomes WolfCop his relationship with booze becomes more like Popeye and spinach. It’s probably not something that will quite sit right with those of us who grew up in alcoholic households, but it’s hard to get too worked up about a film this goofy.

For all the wackiness, WolfCop takes a traditional approach to lycanthropy that you rarely see in werewolf films. Garou’s condition doesn’t come from being bitten or scratched, but from a magical ritual. Werewolves in folklore were often sorcerers who made deals with infernal powers, or people who wore the enchanted skins of predatory beasts. While this version is not quite either of those, it is closer than the version popularised by the old Universal monster movies.

There is a sequel — Another WolfCop — which I have been informed is not quite as good. Even so, I’m going to have to check it out. I won’t be able to fit it into my schedule this month, but I may post a short review when I do get to it.

Verdict

As I’m sure I’ve said in previous reviews, I am deeply suspicious of anyone who sets out to make a cult film. It’s like trying to be cool — if you’re doing it consciously, you’re probably doing it wrong. That said, WolfCop is one of the rare examples of this working. This is a film that knows exactly what kind of nonsense it has to offer and fully commits to it without being too knowing or clever. It reminds me more than a little of the wonderful Psycho Goreman in that respect.

But what makes WolfCop stand apart from a lot of weird, micro-budget comedy horror is that it’s just plain well made. Sure, you can see how little money they had to work with, but that doesn’t stop the script, acting, and gore effects from being far better than they needed to be. Everything is gloopy and gross, from the transformation sequences to people getting their faces ripped off, and the jokes largely work. There is hardly a bum note in the whole thing.

WolfCop is a pure distillation of campy, gory entertainment that just plain delighted me. It’s messy, crass, and absolutely joyous. Highly recommended.

The October Horror Movie Challenge

Please do join in and share your own thoughts with us about this or any other films as the month goes on. You can usually find us on BlueSky, Reddit, Discord, or lurking in the dark corners of your home.

If you would like to play along at home, my provisional selections are:

Heretic (USA, 2024)
The Sadness (Taiwan, 2021)
The Uninvited (USA, 1944)
The Lodge (UK/USA, 2019)
WolfCop (Canada, 2014)
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Czechoslovakia, 1970)
The Monkey (USA, 2025)
Sister Midnight (India/UK, 2024)
Roadgames (Australia, 1981)
Nightmare City (Italy, 1985)
Dangerous Animals (Australia, 2025)
Dead Talents Society (Taiwan, 2024)
Winterbeast (USA, 1992)
Byzantium (UK/Ireland, 2013)
The Ugly Stepsister (Norway, 2025)
A Page of Madness (Japan, 1926)
Heart Eyes (USA, 2025)
Grafted (New Zealand, 2024)
Arrebato (Spain, 1979)
Hatching (Finland, 2022)
Abigail (USA, 2024)
Ganja & Hess (USA, 1973)
The Devil’s Bath (Austria, 2025)
Pieces (Spain, 1982)
Infested (France, 2023)
Best Wishes to All (Japan, 2022)
A Cat in the Brain (Italy, 1990)
Enys Men (UK, 2022)
Creature From the Black Lagoon (USA, 1954)
Perewangan (Indonesia, 2024)
Bring Her Back (Australia, 2025)

A Final Note

If you have been enticed here by these posts, please do look around at some of our other film reviews. We also have a podcast, called The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, which occasionally covers horror films. If this appeals, you might want to check out some of the following episodes.