Years ago I was at a small horror fan convention called
Cinema Wasteland (a con that I will always sing praises for and have attended
numerous times since) and saw a movie made by a company called Low Budget
Pictures. True to their name the movie was incredibly low budget, disgusting on
several levels and poorly made. All that being said the crowd turned the movie
into a fun event while watching it. It was like a Troma movie but on a smaller
budget and grosser if that’s possible. But low budget films have been a staple
for some time now with some being creative, inventive and amazing while others
were, well, Low Budget Pictures. So how does the low budget film WOLF COP fare?
In the small town of Woodhaven, police officer Lou Garou (Leo
Fafard) spends most of his time drunk or sitting at the local bar. His friend
Willie Higgins (Jonathan Cherry) calls him to report occult activity at his gun
story but ignores him. When he calls again the chief tells him to investigate.
He arrives to find an occult group sacrificing a local politician who was
promoting investigating corruption. Knocked unconscious he wakes the next day
with no idea of what happened and a pentagram carved into his chest.
Suddenly Garou seems to become super cop. He has heightened
senses and can smell things no one else can, see clearer and becomes stronger.
That night when he goes to the bar again while in the bathroom he begins to
feel differently. Unfortunately for them at the same time members of a local
gang are terrorizing the barmaid Jessica (Sarah Lind) and enter the bathroom to
confront Garou. Except that he has changed into a werewolf in uniform. Taking
apart the gang members, one escapes to report back to his boss. Garou once more
passes out only to wake and find himself handcuffed to his friend Willie’s bed.
Willie lets him know that he’s become a werewolf now.
The next day Garou and his partner Sgt. Tina (Amy Matysio)
are assigned the investigation of the slaughter at the bar. They’re also given
the job of investigating a series of robberies taking place by thieves wearing
pig masks.
That night Garou takes a call for help at a local
supermarket and changes into his werewolf form before he can go. Retaining his
human intelligence this time he arrives and takes on the robbers in gory
detail. Thinking the only safe thing for him to do is lock himself up, Willie
puts him in a cell. While there Jessica arrives, disrobes and while in wolf
form the pair have sex. She knows his secret.
Yes, something else is going on that Garou and his partner
are unaware of. It all comes to a head in the final part of the film which I
won’t reveal here. Better those that enjoy movies like this still have
something to look forward to.
So let’s start with the bad. The film is definitely low
budget. Not in the worst way possible (think moving cardboard headstones in
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE) but it shows. The acting isn’t bad but still leaves
something to be desired. The story has plenty of holes in it but hey, who
cares? This is exploitation movie making at its best.
The good is the movie. It never takes itself seriously and
that shows. The gore effects are over the top with flying heads and blood
spewing forth in abundance, something all good gorehounds love in their films.
That bad acting? It doesn’t matter. It’s passable and that’s a step up for
movies like this. Especially endearing is Willie.
The end result is a movie that’s more fun than serious, to
be taken for what it is which is a low budget film that has heart, a creative
endeavor that pays off in some ways and falls short in others. Fans of the film
will most likely hoot and howl (get it?) while watching the film. It will draw
attention and become a movie to put on while drinking for most and could never
possibly yield a sequel. Or could it?
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