Wolf

Writer and director Nathalie Biancheri's sophomore film is certainly ambitious, but doesn't quite make the impact its complex themes and artsy cinematography seem to promise. At the center of Wolf, and what holds it together, is a performance from MacKay that is both restrained and fully committed -- supported by a similarly impressive turn from Depp. They bring much-needed nuance to a narrative that is often clunky and over-simplistic, which feels at odds with the movie's off-kilter style. Paddy Considine's aggressive Zookeeper is lacking in substance, veering into two-dimensional stereotype. In addition, the portrayal of the psychological methods used in the facility feels overly familiar and very one-note ­-- though it certainly gets the job done in terms of them appearing inhumane.

There are moments of great visual flair. These include dimly-lit scenes that illuminate the animalistic nature of the lean and muscular Jacob, as well as some quirky shots, which tightly frame Depp's face -- that is adorned with whiskers -- accentuating her naturally feline-like features. All of which adds to the shame that the whole thing doesn't quite feel cohesive, throwing out some potentially interesting themes, but never really leaning into them, and offering a strong aesthetic and intriguing tone that is never fully realized.