Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strange, fascinating, tender doc about movie-crazy brothers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Wolfpack
What's the Story?
The six Angulo brothers -- Bhagavan, Govinda, Narayana, Mukunda, Krsna, and Jagadisa -- and their sister were raised and home-schooled inside their family's New York City apartment, only very rarely leaving it to experience the city streets. (They were allowed outside maybe once a year, though sometimes less.) But the siblings found solace through movies. Before long, they began transcribing entire screenplays, making costumes and props, devising make-up, and re-creating their favorites (Reservoir Dogs, The Dark Knight, etc.) in their apartment. Their seemingly limitless imagination eventually reached past the walls of their familiar apartment, paving the way for their first real steps outside.
Is It Any Good?
The movie could have gone deeper, but to do so would have disrupted its tone, which is spot-on. Filmmaker Crystal Moselle -- who spotted the six Angulo brothers during one of their rare excursions and befriended them -- takes a surprisingly tender approach to the material, never casting blame or making comments. There are no outside interviews in THE WOLFPACK, no psychologists or social workers, and no narration. The father is interviewed sporadically, and we see that he drinks and that the boys fear him.
Instead, Moselle shows that the boys, though deprived of simple, basic things like friends and nature, are smart and likable, and they seem to trust her with their innermost feelings. She avoids darkness and gives the movie a sense of hope as the siblings begin to venture out on their own and eventually begin to look forward to their new lives as independent adults.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the brothers re-enact violent movies they've seen in The Wolfpack. Why do they seem attracted to movies about violence? How do they depict the violence in their own playacting? Can they tell the difference?
How would you describe the siblings' media diet? Did they have positive cinematic role models?
What are some of the basic things this family missed out on while the kids were growing up? Did you have those things? Does the movie make you appreciate them more?
If you were in the siblings' situation, how do you think you'd fill the time spent in that apartment?
How is the father's drinking depicted? What does it mean for him -- and for the rest of the family?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 12, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : October 20, 2015
- Cast : Bhagavan Angulo , Narayana Angulo , Govinda Angulo
- Director : Crystal Moselle
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Adventures , Arts , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms , Siblings ) , Holidays ( Father's Day ) , Travel
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate