Polish horror drama 'Werewolf' concerns a group of children recently liberated from a Nazi concentration camp. As they settle into an abandoned mansion deep in the forest, they not only have to overcome thirst and hunger, but also fend off a pack of vicious dogs...

Those hoping to see a werewolf will be disappointed, but this film cleverly combines coming-of-age elements and survival horror thrills. It has an interpretative title; whether meant for the Nazi's and how war has transformed them into beasts, how a young child might view grisly injuries on a decaying corpse and conclude that it was caused by something from fantasy, or even how the children themselves have been forever changed by their horrific ordeal. And it's quite understandable why one of the young ones poses the question: Have the SS officers turned into wolves? As the animals attack with bloodthirsty intensity.

You won't get familiar with any names, but the group of characters are good. And of course there's an unstable member who threatens to endanger everyone more than once. (Is he the metaphorical werewolf?) The psychological and physical effects of past imprisonment has worn these children down, but they combine their wits when the dogs lay siege to their decrepit shelter, and there are a number of tense sequences and savage attacks, some of which are done in slow motion quite nicely.

Overall, 'Werewolf' is a solid, unexpected treat. The acting and cinematography is faultless, and it contains a thematically rich narrative that keeps you engaged even when it settles into a more straightforward horror groove.

7/10.

After being liberated from a concentration camp, a group of children are left alone in an abandoned fortress in the middle of the woods to fend for themselves, and as they succumb to starvation and thirst they find themselves slowly picked off by the rabid guard dogs that used to patrol the camp.

There was a lot to like with this one. Among its more enjoyable aspects is the impressive build-up to everything where the actions of the kids at the house makes for a solid time here. Working together to try to get by for what seems like the first time in their lives with no adult supervision alone in the middle of the woods inside a huge house by themselves offers a wholly engaging premise to work with before incorporating the events taking place around them. The period setting with the film set during the Second World War and being aware of the real-world dangers they face at the same time as the killer dogs surrounding them and makes for an engaging time as the scenes of them trying to forage for food in the woods, collect supplies and perform regular duties around the house offer enough to get going in the first half. Likewise, once the dogs enter the fray there's quite a lot to enjoy. Not only are the attack scenes incredibly brutal but their general involvement is quite entertaining. The first attacks are highly enjoyable, from seeing the opening shots of the dogs tearing the prisoners to pieces to them stumbling upon the mangled bodies in the woods which get this going on a fine note. The actual encounter with the guard stationed to protect them which is quite brutal and dark in its own right and is followed nicely with the chase through the house trying to keep it under control while everyone frantically flees in cover. Keeping the dogs to a more realistic pattern of attacks with them mostly restricted to sniffing around, pacing and barking frantically might be a detriment since there's not much more in the way of brutality or a body-count the fact that they remain a presence to overcome and keep them there is a fine sight, and the uplifting finale is a positive to enjoy as well which gives this a lot to like. This one does have a few minor quibbles about it. The main issue is the use of an annoying and utterly unrealistic trope where the dogs are able to follow the commands of the kids and not attack them. In a realistic sense, the dogs would be unresponsive to anything said by them just because the kids are speaking in their native language and would be unfamiliar with who or what was talking to it, making the scenes of them controlling the dogs highly illogical and far-fetched. Moreover, since they have that upper hand and realize that the dogs can be controlled why they don't press that to their advantage and escape keeping the dogs at bay which seems quite odd that this wouldn't be at least attempted earlier as they stay there for several days aware of this before anything is attempted. Otherwise, this one doesn't have many flaws.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence, Graphic Language and intense themes of children-in-jeopardy.