Leader of the Pack

With its review being originally published on November 23rd, 2016, I was happy to see the Canadian Indie thriller Generation Wolf at a special solo screening while it was still on the festival circuit. I was also fortunate to spend some time with the film’s producer, co-writer, director and star Christian de la Cortina, as well as fellow actor Tyler Murree, and its composer, Martin Macek. I am pleased to say that I received an email from Christian a few days ago, and he has passed along the wonderful news that it has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films and is finally able to be viewed on Amazon Prime Worldwide (an exciting piece of news for a little independent film from Quebec). I hope that you will revisit my review and give this worthwhile thriller a viewing.

As I sat watching the special screening of the Canadian independent film Generation Wolf (the Ontario non-festival premiere held at the historic Port Theatre in Cornwall) surrounded by a massive audience – an image triggered in my mind. . . that of two individuals playing Russian roulette. Though this may seem nonsensical (especially once you read my synopsis), please allow me to elaborate. The movie had a certain inevitability, much like the deathly contest – after all, Russian roulette always ends with a bullet to the head. Yet, it was also imbued with many other features associated with the contest – chance, luck, suspense and a certain unpredictability. It is perhaps the biggest risk/reward game that can be played. As you can imagine, Generation Wolf produces its fair share of nerving thrills.

Christian de la Cortina co-writes (along with Frank Baylis), produces, directs and stars in this Canadian picture that is still surfing the festival circuit. He plays Vincent Del Toro, a smart young man who has left his home in Michigan for sunny days in California, and is on the verge of putting his business on the map. Converting classic cars of yesteryear into modern, electric cars of the future, he has already made some sales. Waiting on the licensing bureau, he soon realizes that they are actually re-possessing his cars – as they won’t accept the electric motors he has used.

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he flies back to Detroit, looking to find financing for his venture. Denied at every turn, he is seeing his dream quickly slip away. While visiting his father Juan Pablo (Sergio Hernández) at the garage where he works, he just happens to bump into an old highschool acquaintance, Bill (Tyler Murree). The unpopular, goofy loser of those tumultuous teenage years, Del Toro is perhaps slightly surprised to see the man driving a posh Porsche. Bill is ecstatic when he spots his former friend – as he was one of the few people who always treated him well in secondary school. Looking to catch up, they agree to meet in the near future.

Del Toro reaches out to his former girlfriend Valery (Hayley Sales), a woman who works with an accepted electric motor company. Though pain from their collective past echoes through the meeting, the man is able to convince her to submit the paperwork without payment – he is given six weeks to come up with the cash (as that is when her boss returns from vacation).

After meeting with Bill again, he realizes that the jokester is making his money through illicit means – a massive marijuana grow-op in his large home. Running low on options, the desperate man asks to setup a one time deal with the shady entrepreneur, seeing his father’s dilapidated barn as being the perfect hidey hole for the venture.

Entering the dangerous and illegal world, he must nurture the crop as it grows over its thirty-nine day maturity date. Yet, in true Murphy’s Law fashion, he is told that he must pay for the motors sooner than originally expected. Borrowing the money from his partner in crime, things continue to disintegrate as the movie progresses. Will Del Toro be able to survive his foray into the seedy criminal underworld – saving his company in the process, or will he flail and then fall under the added weight of his shady dealings?

For whatever reason, certain people have preconceived notions when entering into the world of an independent film. To quell some of those fears, Generation Wolf is grand in its scope, themes and story – never feeling under-budget or claustrophobic in range. Filmed in both Quebec (a stand in for Michigan) and in California, the two locales capture the very different realities Del Toro must deal with – California represents, for him, a newer, brighter world filled with hopes and dreams, while Michigan symbolizes the collapse of the American dream: with its crumbling infrastructure, weakened auto industry, lack of finances, pained past and literally, its more gloomy setting.

Left to right: writer/director/producer/actor Christian de la Cortina; actor Tyler Murree; Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams; and composer Martin Macek – photo taken at the Generation Wolf afterparty, held at Schnitzels European Flavours in Cornwall

Interestingly, Cortina’s Del Toro never wavers in his approach. Despite the fact that he has entered into this dangerous world out of desperation, he is at no time seduced by its gilded, albeit sleazy, glamour. It is just a job for him – as he is willing to do anything it takes to keep his business afloat. To add an interesting nuance to his character, while Cortina’s Del Toro speaks English, he is always businesslike – having a certain mask, or facade, that guards his true self. It is only when he is with his loving father (the Spanish speaking portion of the film), where we truly witness the man in his natural form – looser and more comfortable. These scenes capture a certain realism while also adding a nice touch of humour to the motion picture. There is some added heft to the relationship as his father’s home is also about to be lost if the business goes bust (as it was used to help finance the venture). As for the other player of Russian roulette, (Cornwall’s own) Tyler Murree, a Canadian actor known more for his stage performances and for playing smaller characters on several television series, is superlative in his portrayal of Bill. Being gloriously overzealous, excessive, and an absolute wildcard, he ports a five o’clock shadow that is quickly rounding the clock. Each little nuance, be it from the script or Murree’s own ingenuity, is perfect – as his obsession with his hot tub, his spot on impersonation of Christopher Walken and his infatuation with his twin female grow-op accomplices, just adds to the realistic nature of this shallow, unpredictable individual.

The moral quandary only further enriches the story. At one point, father and son have a heated discussion, and the elder warns the younger Del Toro that material wealth means nothing if you can’t look yourself in the mirror. It is this relationship, and this singular conversation, that perhaps best captures the heart of the conundrum that Vincent Del Toro is in. What are the costs of delving into this world? Is it truly worth doing it just to save his business?

Perhaps this is the best time to explain the title. Not directly referenced in the film, nearly every persona in the movie can be characterized as being part of ‘Generation Wolf’. Business is their beast – and nothing will get in the way as they attempt to conquer their goals. Fear is not in their vocabulary; survival with benefits is.

Generation Wolf is a superlative little thriller. At a taut ninety minutes, it flows well, boasts some nice twists (while not being difficult to follow) and features superb performances. It is also accompanied by a solid, exhilarating score from first time composer Martin Macek – further enlivening the thrills. So, help this wolf pack grow by checking out Generation Wolf, it is a rich piece of film making that will leave you in a state of reflection.