The Wolf of Snow Hollow is now playing in theaters and drive-ins where possible, and is also available for purchase on-demand.

High-quality monster films are far and few between these days and it’s always a delight when a good one pops up. The Wolf of Snow Hollow is one of those ambitious projects that hits the right notes and makes the right decisions.

Officer John Marshall (Jim Cummings) is a stressed-out, high-strung police officer trying to live up to his father’s reputation, the aging Sheriff Hadley (Robert Forster) who refuses to retire despite his health problems. When a sudden, and gruesome, murder takes place, the whole town is on high-alert as the police department tries to find who is responsible. Unfortunately, as questions go unanswered and the department cannot solve the case, the public’s trust in Marshall diminishes.

As a recovering alcoholic, and as he tries to navigate a strained relationship with his daughter Jenna (Chloe East), the added stress of the whole situation begins to take a toll on John. Quickly, though, it is revealed that the suspect may not be entirely human. When more victims are found, and tensions flare, the pursuit for justice becomes more frantic and John Marshall will stop at nothing to bring these crimes to an end.

Jim Cummings, who is also the writer and director of this project, delivers a passionate performance that effectively communicates the hardship his character is experiencing. In navigating his sobriety, the difficulty of looking after an aging parent, trying to salvage a relationship with his own child, and dealing with the added pressures of his job, this character does not always win and some of his decisions are less than admirable. When it comes to Cummings’ depictions of alcoholism, they are all too familiar for those of us who have dealt with loved ones with the same struggles.

It makes you ask, who is the monster?

Robert Forster also delivers a performance that has to be appreciated, as The Wolf of Snow Hollow would end up being his final film role. The frailties of his character feel all too prescient when looking back. The dynamic between Forster and Cummings is worth praise as they created their relationship and worked off of each other with every scene they shared.

This story, filmed entirely in Utah, is even more impressive considering its small budget. But, with its visual effects, casting, and coherent story, you really wouldn’t know it. It speaks to Jim Cummings’ talent as a filmmaker and it’s exciting to think about what he may come up with next.