Lionsgate has been a boon for genre fans these last few years as the distributor has provided a steady stream of unusual low budget horror and suspense films. Many of them are awful, yes, but at the same time, other titles have been entertaining, offering interesting storylines and characters one doesn't often see in mainstream films.

Wild Country, a 2005 werewolf flick from Scotland, falls in the latter category. Released on the tail end (no pun intended) of 2008 on DVD here in the United States, this little production is worth seeking out for horror film fans, despite its faults.

Wild Country centers upon Kelly Ann (Samantha Shields in her first, and according to the Internet Movie DataBase, only, film role), a troubled teenager who gives her newborn baby up for adoption. Six weeks later, her priest dumps her and several other wayward teens - including the father of Kelly Ann's baby - in the middle of nowhere to spend two days of hiking. Father Steve (Peter Capaldi) has some unusual ideas about how to deal with troubled youngsters; on the ride up, he tells them the lengthy story of an inbred cannibal family who preys upon people out in the wild country.

Left alone, the five teen hikers brave the elements, which unfortunately includes a clan of human-sized wolf creatures out for some human meals. Kelly Ann happens upon a baby in their lair, and tries to care for the infant as her friends are killed one after another.

The highlight of Wild Country isn't its cast or creatures. It's the setting. Filmed in an absolutely gorgeous area of Scottish hills, several shots throughout the movie take full advantage of sweeping landscapes, which create a convincing ambience of isolation that heightens the suspense. Whether by design or accident, outdoors scenes were shot on overcast days, so the skies are full of ominous dark clouds, which is an added plus.

It's disappointing, then, to have a large portion of the film set at night. The blue-lit darkness negates the impact of the wilderness setting.

In any case, the cast is quite good, especially given that the documentary included on the disc reveals that many of the young actors had no prior film experience. Samantha Shields is convincing as the "final girl," conflicted over giving up her baby for adoption. This plot point informs her motivations throughout the movie. The characters are all believable, which helped make an otherwise routine set-up for a monster flick more interesting. Credit goes to writer / director Craig Strachan for keeping an air of authenticity throughout.

An air of authenticity, at least, for the characters and setting. The monsters themselves were another story. Strachan decided to go the "real" route instead of using CG effects. Casting actors in full monster suits was admirable since a lot of low budget fright flicks are undone by fake-looking CG menaces. The creature body suits have a unique look to them, but motion seems to be limited. This leads to some awkward and unconvincing action sequences in the second half of the movie that greatly limit the effectiveness of the film's horrific moments.

Despite this major fault, I'm recommending Wild Country. I appreciated its beautiful setting and natural performances by its cast. At a relatively scant 72 minutes, it's never dull, even though the basic storyline is fairly routine.

The DVD

Video:

Lionsgate gives Wild Country an anamorphic widescreen presentation in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Details seemed a bit lacking, and video noise was apparent in blue-lit night scenes, but in general, the video quality is pretty good.

Sound:

The lone audio track is an English language Dolby Digital 2.0. It isn't particularly dynamic, but given the raw feel of the movie, it seemed suitable for the proceedings.

Optional English and Spanish subtitles are provided. American viewers should take note: the accents here are fairly strong, and you might consider watching this with subtitles on.

Extras:

Trailers precede the main menu for Punisher: War Zone, The Transporter 3, The Spirit, Repo The Genetic Opera, Chill, Kemper: The Co-Ed Killer, and Werewolf Hunter: The Legend of Romasanta. An Also From Lionsgate link in the menu system provides access to these trailers collectively.

The only Wild Country-specific extra was a Behind the Scenes documentary. At 37:02, it's significantly longer than the standard extra, and does go into depth on the film's production. Comments from cast and crew are included. It's also in anamorphic widescreen.

Final Thoughts:

Some beautiful shots of the Scottish countryside and good performances by its teenage leads, especially Samantha Shields, outweigh the disappointing creature sequences and blue-lit nighttime scenes that hamper the intended scares in Wild Country. At 72 minutes, this film is lean and mean. Recommended.

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