The werewolf is above all else a tragic figure in film. Lonely, accursed, and in constant danger of harming those closest to them, they’ve been a metaphor for the isolated outsider for over a century now (Let the entropy sink in).
The social ostracization of those who don’t conform to the sexual or gender binary is therefore a perfect skin for a werewolf to inhabit and is tackled beautifully in Canadian director Jacqueline Castel’s debut film, MY ANIMAL.
Premiering at Sundance International Film Festival 2023, MY ANIMAL follows Heather (Bobbi Salvor Menuez), a queer person navigating the prejudices of small-town Canada in the late ’80s/early ’90s, as well as a dysfunctional family life where she and her younger brothers (Charles and Harrison Halpenny) must cope with their inherited lycanthropy from their father (Stephen McHattie). Further complicating matters, a figure skater in an on and off abusive relationship (Amandla Stenberg) begins to grow close with her, forcing her to decide whether to continue to hide her true self in the shadows, or to open herself up to this new love with all the potential danger it entails.
Written by Jae Matthews of dark wave band Boy Harsher, MY ANIMAL is potentially the most honest and refreshing take on the werewolf as social commentary since fellow Canadian werewolf film, 2000s GINGER SNAPS; and the influence is undeniable. Both showcase a certain gloom and chill almost inherent in Canadian horror and conflate the onset of lycanthropy with the onset of puberty. However, while GINGER SNAPS leans toward a macabre exploitation inspired narrative, MY ANIMAL has a noticeable softness imbued throughout. Perhaps it’s the quiet hush that seems to follow Heather in her introversion, or maybe it’s her house having the cozy vibe of your uncle’s wood paneled basement, you know the one, but it truly draws you into her and her family as more of a distant friend than a detached observer.
Matthews goes out of her way to strip away the violence, gore, and feral nature of the werewolves themselves. They’re humans who happen to be werewolves, not monsters losing their humanity. This is equally reflected in the quality of the acting itself. McHattie radiates fatherly warmth from the screen as he delivers soft speeches to Heather about the importance of being her full self, with more than a hint that he understands the true nature of his very closeted child and holds no judgment towards them for it. In a small town full of bigots and misogynistic men, the grizzled “animal” of a father seems to still be the only person with a real heart left. You can see this influence in his child, Heather, who despite their gruffness and silence shows more and more softness in their budding romance with the figure skater, Johnny. This softness juxtaposed with Menuez’s strong, muscular physique is a perfect pairing for Stenberg’s fiery personality and lithe frame, and the twists and pitfalls of their relationship and insecurities are played off each other so well that the ultimate outcome makes your heart ache.
There are not enough werewolf movies in this world, and even fewer “good” ones at that. It’s refreshing to have them come to the forefront again through films like THE CURSE (EIGHT FOR SILVER) or WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, and even more so with such an excellent example of queer cinema representation joining them with MY ANIMAL. It’s subdued, it’s honest, and it’s unflinching in its portrayal of the loneliness and suffering a small place full of small-minded people can inflict on someone. The pain of a transformation, an outlet for the pain of trapping your true nature under your skin for fear of shunning at best and violence and death at worst. While the vampires are shown in lavish settings and the brightly lit nightlife of cities, creatures that writers and directors allow to fully revel in their queerness, there are werewolves like heather that must claw and gnaw their way out of the cold, rustic villages with their cold and rustic ideals. And maybe with more characters like Heather, the werewolves out there will feel less alone.
MY ANIMAL is scheduled to release in theaters on September 8th, 2023 and digitally on September 15th, 2023.
Tags: 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Amandla Stenberg, Augustus Muller, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Boy Harsher, Bryn McCashin, Canada, Charles F. Halpenny, Cory Lipman, Dean McDermott, Harrison W. Halpenny, Heidi von Palleske, Horror, Jacqueline Castel, Jae Matthews, Joe Apollonio, Marc Boucrot, Scott Thompson, Stephen McHattie, Werewolves
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