Directed by Michael Patrick Jann and written by Abigail Miller, set on the Oregon coast, troubled police officer Ren Accord investigates a mysterious wolf attack. Matters escalate when his estranged son vanishes during the case. Starring: Ethan Embry, Li Jun Li, Mather Zickel, Jeremie Harris, Alexandra Doke, Kevin Allison, Lukas Jann, Dana Millican and Beth Malone.

An animal attack in a remote community, surrounded by woods and a local cop getting caught up in the mystery, is a great starting point for any horror film, so Alma & the Wolf kicks things off on the right note. Especially as Michael Patrick Jann leans into that air of distrust with his atmosphere, nudging you to question anything and everything. It may feel a touch familiar but that doesn’t undermine its entertainment value. However, there’s a lot of stylistic touches to the film which feel like they hark back to New Zealand style cinema, as if it wants to bring through a sense of humour and yet it never does.

There’s so much rife territory for Alma & the Wolf to become self-aware and have more fun with it, especially with Ethan Embry in the lead since he has a great ability to blend comedy and thrill. However, as the film progresses, you can see that’s not a part of its identity, it has an endgame in mind, and it’s interested more in psychological games than adding a comedy vein. Unfortunately, it simply doesn’t have the weight to pull off that kind of tone, it can’t deliver on the darkness and emotion that the story is ultimately calling for. Leading to certain elements of the film feeling overly constructed or manipulated.

It also feels as though, having picked this incredibly natural setting, Jann and cinematographer Joe Kessler don’t make the most of it. The isolation and mystery that the woods can bring to any film is an undeniable asset but that never quite clicks into place with the atmosphere of Alma & the Wolf. The filmmakers miss the mark on connecting with the darkness and looming fear, as well as simply the aesthetic benefits, as visually it feels more like an episode of a supernatural television show. It’s not necessarily a negative, but it does mean that it can occasionally lack sharpness and depth.

All of that is a shame as there are some great ingredients at work, particularly the presence of Ethan Embry who hasn’t really had a solid horror role to get his teeth into since 2015’s The Devil’s Candy from the director of Dangerous Animals, Sean Byrne. Embry brings a superb range to this role, the way that he can move through sweetness and vulnerability to intensity is really enjoyable to watch. There’s a few elements of Alma & the Wolf which feel unintentionally funny and if Embry had been given freer rein, he could have really turned this role into something special, even as great as his performance already is. The rest of the cast can be a bit of a mixed bag but it’s really Embry’s show anyway.

Alma & the Wolf had a good idea but feels like it went in the wrong direction. It was poised to bring through a comedy element, it could have made for a really great self-aware horror flick and simply had fun with it. Unfortunately, it tries to go for something on the heavier or metaphorical side, and it doesn’t work well. It’s still an entertaining bit of horror that’s worth watching, and Ethan Embry gives an excellent performance, but it sadly doesn’t reach its full potential.

Verdict: ✯✯½ | 5/10

In Select Theatres & On Digital from June 20