Lycan (2017)

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Very predictable, very poor story, no thrill, actors can't act.

The lead actress in this film gives what is perhaps the most brilliant drunken performance since W.C. Fields. Her dedication to her craft is evident all throughout, as she uses gin-infused slurring to transition seamlessly from one made up accent to the next. Unless you count slurring as a seam, I guess. And while this intoxicated performance was at the top of its game, it could not come close to matching the dedicated inebriation of the sound design team, whose ability to make the film sonic-ally assault you like a Mel Gibson antisemitism rant. I give this film eight Jagermeister shots. "COME AND GET US YOU BASTARD! I gotta pee."

I'm a fan of independent films and especially low budget horror films made by fans of the genre. Some of the best made horror movies began with a ton of imagination and little funds. Two great examples are THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE and THE HILLS HAVE EYES. Both tell an original story, both use actors who are far from famous and both take the elements of the genre and mold them into something memorable. Unfortunately the same can't be said of LYCAN.The movie feels like a checklist made film, one that looks at all others and then compiles that list to mark off the things needed for a horror film. Students? Check. Oddball among them? Check. Mysterious location? Check. Legend being investigated? Check. Stoner in the group? Check. Videotaping the events? Check. See where I'm coming from? Students are given the assignment to do a deep investigation into a historical story and then write a report on it. Rather than individuals they are placed in groups, which of course sets them at odds with one another over issues like what to do or the snooty girl in conflict with the oddball. Rather than look into the story of a man wrongfully convicted of a crime they choose to look into the legend of a woman accused of being a werewolf.This involves going to the location of where it took place which happens to be on land next to where the oddball girl lives. It also involves camping. That leads to drinking and smoking grass and someone getting roofied. It also means that these students will eventually be watched by something in the woods.The movie takes far too long to set up the premise and then more wasted time to set the kids up to get lost ala BLAIR WITCH. Fortunately the videotaped portions aren't long but then they add nothing to the film either. The performances are well intended but for the most part on the poor side. The only good thing about this film is the final sequence which offers a decent explanation of what's been going on as well as a nice reveal. The problem is the hour or so it took to get there not to mention the fact most will figure out at least part of that beforehand.Look, I love a good horror movie and as I said I'm glad that when someone has the chance they take a risk and put something out there. But it doesn't always work. The extras show that this group really had their heart in it but that just isn't enough to make a great movie. Horror fans might want to watch this and see what they think but for the most part other may want to pass it by.

This movie looks more like a project a teen director would put together for their finals.The best thing about the movie is the music tracks it has some lovely music in it.The acting is about on par for the whole movie its not as bad as 1970s b movies but not as good as some polished TV dramas As for the story.....Its confusing and convoluted at best and just down right awful in parts.With a reputed 1/4 million budget its hard to see where it was spent but I'm guessing a lot of it went of red corn syrup.Save your time and money and watch Dog Soldiers or American Werewolf in London if you want to see a decent werewolf movie.A better title would have been canine as there are no werewolves in this movie