Hold the Dark is a gripping action thriller movie that was released in 2018. The movie is directed by Jeremy Saulnier, and its screenplay is written by Macon Blair. Starring Jeffrey Wright as Russel Core, Alexander Skarsgard as Vernon Slone, and Riley Keough as Medora Slone, the movie is adapted from William Giraldi’s novel of the same name.
The story of the movie revolves around Russell Core, a writer who pens books on wild animals’ behavior, primarily wolves. One day, he receives a letter from Medora Slone, a grieving mother who lives in the remote village of Keelut, Alaska. She requests Russell’s help to hunt down the wolves that she thinks killed her son, Bailey, and other children in her community.
Russell travels to Alaska and finds that there is more to the story than he anticipated. Medora’s husband, Vernon, is a soldier who is deployed in Iraq. Medora has not informed him about Bailey’s death, and his whereabouts are unknown. Russell sets out in search of the wolves and comes across a pack of wolves feeding on a carcass. Russell does not kill them and decides to return to Medora’s house.
To Russell’s surprise, when he arrives at Medora’s house, she is gone, and he discovers Bailey’s frozen body in the basement. The police arrive at the scene to investigate the case, and villagers suspect that Medora is possessed by a demon wolf named Tournaq. Meanwhile, Vernon arrives and is taken by his friend, Cheeon, to see Bailey’s body at the hospital.
Cheeon, Vernon’s friend, and the father of another missing child take him to the morgue to identify Bailey’s body. There, Vernon meets Russell, head police Donald Marium, and other police officers. After Russell and Donald leave, Vernon kills the police officer who was on guard duty and takes his son’s body. He and Cheeon bury Bailey in a coffin in the frozen soil.
Vernon then visits Illanaq, an elderly woman who claims to know about the demon wolf Tournaq that Medora mentioned. She informs Vernon that the influenza epidemic has ravaged the village, and many people have died. The ground is too hard to bury their bodies. Donald suspects Vernon when Bailey’s body goes missing, and a police officer is killed.
The movie’s plot takes several twists and turns and leads to a dramatic ending. As Russell and Donald investigate, they discover Illanaq’s gruesome death. The situation in Keelut becomes more complicated as the mystery unfolds.
Conclusion
Hold the Dark is a well-crafted movie that keeps the audience glued to their seats with its captivating storyline, great acting, and stunning scenery. With its unpredictable plot twists and turns, viewers are kept on the edge of their seats, engrossed in the story’s unfolding mystery. Critics have praised the film’s technical achievements, and audiences have raved about its suspenseful plot and beautiful cinematography. If you love a good thriller that keeps you guessing until the end, Hold the Dark is a must-watch movie.
