To Kill a Wolf

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To Kill a Wolf

2025

1h 32m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

100%

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27 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

On the fringes of the Oregon wilderness, two strangers with troubled pasts are brought together when a reclusive WOODSMAN discovers a teenage runaway, DANI, hypothermic and barely conscious in the woods. After saving Dani from the elements, The Woodsman begrudgingly agrees to return the teen to her grandmother and the two become unlikely travel companions. As they make their way across the state, they forge an unexpected bond, delving into their pasts and testing their willingness to trust one another. Ultimately, with each other's help, they come to face the demons that haunt them and discover a way to start their lives anew.

Critics Consensus

To Kill a Wolf refashions the Little Red Riding Hood story into a quietly powerful, deeply compassionate study of guilt, elevated by understated performances and its delicately sketched emotional depth.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Aug 21

3/5

What Taylor illustrates... is a sensitive portrait of guilt, of the difference between people who simply want to bury it and those that are consumed by it. Her sympathy for those caught in its warm, familiar pain is what fills To Kill a Wolf with life.

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Clint Worthington

RogerEbert.com

Aug 1

3/4

In stripping down the Red Riding Hood fable to more terrestrial environs, ‘To Kill a Wolf' finds stronger, more delicate ways to sell the simmering psychology of its original fable.

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Tim Grierson

Screen International

08/19/2024

Marked by strong, reserved performances -- and deeply compassionate to its soulsick characters -- this quietly absorbing drama has secrets in store, each of them revealed with uncommon elegance.

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Sep 28

Taylor made a stunning debut and embedded a message without sacrificing the artistry or exploiting the survivor unlike a lot of more well-known, well-funded films being released this week (“Eleanor the Great,” “One Battle After Another”).

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Daniel Gorman

In Review Online

Sep 6

Theaters mostly don’t exhibit films like this anymore. It’s a shame, as this is exactly the kind of movie we need more of.

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Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

Aug 28

The acting and overall look of the film are strong while a few issues can be found in the writing and direction, but in general, it’s a decent watch once one forgets the fairytale connection.

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Erika C

Aug 25

Gorgeous cinematography, compelling storyline.

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Chris

Aug 2

Superb, well-crafted & enjoyable.

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Patrick B

@RT82514797 Jul 2

An off-the-beaten path type of story (even for being a nod to the fable). I was kind of hoping for a little more climactic ending, but the psychological conclusion makes you put it together yourself. There is a lot of silence and I wasn't sure if I was getting bored or if the tension was building - then it ended. Story lines worth considering althought the setup seems improbable. Short immersive story for when you're in the mood for something more subdued and not cliche.

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Bill E.

@BillEAZ7448 Feb 26

Visually stunning film with a story that is familiar but surprisingly engaging. The lead actors don’t say a lot, but speak volumes through their actions. This could have been a wild thriller, but turned into a captivating drama. 4/5

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Tim B.

@SlimTim0707 Feb 19

To Kill a Wolf is an ultra-slow burn. My problem with this movie is by the time the characters are finally developed enough for me to care what they do next, the credits roll.

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Ben K

@bpella23 Jan 2

This is an incredibly well shot, slick drama/suspense indie that came out last year. One of those well-done indies without tons of marketing that feels hard to stumble upon, so I guess I got lucky. If you like Lorcan Finnegan's work (especially 'without name') the type of storytelling that's driven by human emotion and raw experience, you'll dig this. Highly recommend.

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To Kill A Wolf: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

On the fringes of the Oregon wilderness, two strangers with troubled pasts are brought together when a reclusive WOODSMAN discovers a teenage runaway, DANI, hypothermic and barely conscious in the woods. After saving Dani from the elements, The Woodsman begrudgingly agrees to return the teen to her grandmother and the two become unlikely travel companions. As they make their way across the state, they forge an unexpected bond, delving into their pasts and testing their willingness to trust one another. Ultimately, with each other's help, they come to face the demons that haunt them and discover a way to start their lives anew.

Director: Kelsey Taylor
Producer: Adam Lee, Kelsey Taylor, Ricky Fosheim, Zach Golden
Screenwriter: Kelsey Taylor
Distributor: All the Better
Production Co: Moo Studios, Detention Films, Slated, Hungry Bull Productions, All the Better
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 32m