In the "Making Of" featurette, novice feature writer Geoffrey Holliday states "DarkWolf" was based on an earlier Fox flick, "Python" (2000), but aside from being part of the studio's entry into B-movie territory for the rental market, there's no connection with that flick; "DarkWolf" is its own creature, written by Holliday, and directed by Richard Friedman, a veteran of late night TV fodder ("Friday the 13th," "Silk Stockings," and "Baywatch Nights").

What's unique about the film is the 24 P digital cinematography - the same system used by George Lucas for "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" - which looks pretty damn good. Director Friedman's probably accurate in observing the look achieved by the digital system will make it more possible for low-budget productions to come to fruition. Fox's DVD is very clean, with a nice balance of dark tones and blacks for the story of a werewolf bloodline that's threatened by a horny biker wolf (played by massive Kane Hodder, the current Jason Voorhees in the Jason/Friday the 13th franchise).

As is typical for a B-movie, there's wet gore, cheesy special effects, and rampant nudity with extensive boobery. A central attack sequence is extended by a ridiculously elongated rooftop photo shoot, as body-painted nubiles discover their inner-lesbianism, while Geoff Levin's synth score ripples through the punchy surround channels.

Besides a trailer, there's a gag reel of flubbed lines and embarrassed actors, and a "Making Of" featurette which edits on-the-set interviews with the entire cast, including Hodder, and Jamie Bergman (sometime Playboy Playmate/Mrs. David Boreanaz) but no Tippi Hedren. Bracketed by title cards, the featurette has cast responding to queries about the script, the film shoot, fellow castmates, favourite scenes, a haunted set, and their characters. The microphoning is weak, but quite audible, though one topic that's given short shrift at the end is the 24 P system, which really should have been given more attention, since the results are quite impressive.

© 2003 Mark R. Hasan