Movie Review: Never Cry Wolf

This movie is based on the writings of Farley Mowat. He is a scientist/naturalist that is sent by the government to observe the effect of wolves on the vanishing Caribou in the Arctic, thereby justifying the bounty placed on the wolves and the mass killings of these poor beasts. It is a very artsy film, almost documentary in its presentation, with narration by the Mowat character and long artistic shots of the arctic and of the wolves. While it has a beautiful presentation--it is a bit slow. It has very little action but shows the personal journey of a man who in the beginning can’t begin to think how he will survive six months in the Arctic, to a man who doesn't want to leave the peace that he has found there.

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Tyler a naturalist/Scientist is employed by the government to observe wolves eating Caribou in the wild. They want to blame the recent decline in Caribou on the wolves so they can continue to have them hunted down. Tyler (Charles Martin Smith) knows nothing about surviving in the wilds of the Arctic and while the government gives him all these instructions and equipment, none of it seems to help him survive or complete his task.

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An Inuit named Ootek (Zachary Ittimangnaq) finds Tyler and helps him in his first few days in the arctic by giving him shelter (which is very important in the cold harsh winter of the Arctic). Gradually summer comes to the arctic and Tyler finds his wolves and learns to survive in the wild. He also discovers the wonders of nature as he observes these wolves caring for their young and interacting with their pack. He also learns what the Inuits already know, that the wolves are a part of nature and the ecosystem and they are not destroying the Caribou--man is.

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The cinematography and direction for this piece is very artistic. It is laid out like a fine painting. Everything is crafted very well visually. I enjoyed it very much just to watch like a moving painting. The acting is good for what we see of it as the real things to watch here was the wolves.

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The acting was good. Charles Martin Smith is great as the naturalist Tyler who in the beginning doesn't know why he took the job. But as the observing the wolves give him back his passion for science he remembers why he became a naturalist in the first place. Plus he was great as a city living guy dumped in the arctic to survive. We could really watch him grow as a character. Zachary Ittimangnaq was great as the old Inuit, Ootek. He gives Tyler wisdom about surviving and about the spiritual nature and real nature of the wolves. He was a great "grandfather" character.

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This movie is a wonderful journey. It gives us insight to the nature of wolves (and maybe with their social behavior they aren't that far from us) and it gives us insight on why biologists/naturalists and conservationists do what they do. They do it because they love it and nature and because they believe in it. Lovely film--but only watch it if you are in the mood for a documentary style journey into nature.