The Wolf Hour

The Wolf Hour

Year: 2019

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Director: Alistair Banks Griffin

Echo Score: 47
DramaMysteryThriller

During the hot summer of 1977, June, a former counterculture figure, withdraws into her apartment in the South Bronx. As the city faces growing unrest and escalating violence, she finds herself increasingly isolated. The threat of the infamous New York City blackout riots looms, pushing June’s already fragile existence to the breaking point as chaos descends around her.

Tense
Happy ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Slow pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Wolf Hour (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Wolf Hour (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

The 1970s in the United States were a time of significant social change and turmoil, with rising crime rates in urban areas and a countercultural movement brewing. This era was marked by the 'Summer of Sam,' highlighting the fear and anxiety gripping New Yorkers due to serial killings and societal instability. June's struggle with mental health mirrors the chaotic environment of the time, trapping her in a cycle of despair amidst a turbulent backdrop.

Location

New York City

The film takes place in the brutal heat of 1970s New York City, a bustling metropolis marked by its vibrant culture and seedy underbelly. During this time, the city was grappling with a wave of crime and social upheaval, epitomized by the infamous 'Summer of Sam.' The neighborhood below June's apartment has transformed into a crime-ridden hellscape, reflecting both the physical and emotional turmoil she experiences.

🏙️ City 🌆 Urban

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

Main Characters – The Wolf Hour (2019)

Meet the key characters of The Wolf Hour (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

June Leigh (Naomi Watts)

June is a former wordsmith who has retreated into solitude due to her overwhelming anxiety and past traumas. Living in a deteriorating apartment, she embodies the struggle against mental health issues, grappling with panic attacks and writer's block. Despite her despair, her journey towards connection and personal growth is both poignant and transformative.

🧑‍🎤 Artist 🌪️ Anxious

Freddie (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Freddie is a young grocery delivery boy who forms an unlikely friendship with June. Carrying his own emotional scars from a tragic past, he becomes a crucial figure in June's journey to reclaim her life. His kindness and support help catalyze June's transformation, allowing her to confront her fears and find hope.

🛒 Delivery Boy 💔 Tragic Past

Margot (Jennifer Ehle)

Margot is June's estranged friend who represents a connection to the outside world. Her determination to help June escape her isolation reveals the depths of their friendship and the importance of support in overcoming personal challenges. Margot's presence serves as a catalyst for June's eventual confrontation with her fears.

🤝 Friend 🌟 Supportive

Officer Blake (Jeremy Bobb)

Officer Blake portrays an ambiguous figure in June's life, offering hollow reassurances at a time of chaos. His visit reflects the broader societal issues facing the community, as he represents the law amidst rampant violence. His interaction with June serves to highlight her longing for safety and security in an increasingly threatening environment.

👮‍♂️ Authority 🎭 Ambiguous

Billy (Emory Cohen)

Billy is a male escort who enters June's life as she seeks human connection. His shared experiences of trauma resonate deeply with June, and their encounter embodies a mixture of desperation and detachment. Billy plays a significant role in June's creative reawakening, demonstrating how intimacy can lead to healing.

👨‍⚕️ Escort 🥀 Troubled

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

Major Themes – The Wolf Hour (2019)

Explore the central themes of The Wolf Hour (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♀️ Isolation

The theme of isolation permeates the narrative as June finds herself trapped within her apartment, distanced from the chaotic world below. Her self-imposed seclusion serves as a protective barrier against her overwhelming anxiety and the violence outside. The film poignantly explores how isolation affects mental health and relationships, ultimately challenging June to confront her fears.

🖋️ Creative Struggle

June's battle with severe writer's block symbolizes a broader creative struggle faced by many artists. As she grapples with personal trauma and familial condemnation, her creativity wanes, leaving her emotionally parched. The re-emergence of her passion, sparked by her connection with Freddie and Billy, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of human interaction in overcoming artistic despair.

⚔️ Courage

Courage is a central theme as June confronts her fears and navigates her external and internal battles. Initially paralyzed by anxiety, her decision to step outside amidst the chaos signifies a turning point in her journey. The interactions with characters like Margot and Billy reveal different facets of bravery, culminating in June's ultimate transformation as she finds the strength to reclaim her life.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

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Claustrophobic Single-Location Thrillers like The Wolf Hour

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a protagonist, often grappling with trauma or mental health issues, who is physically or psychologically confined to one primary location. The plot unfolds as internal turmoil escalates, often mirrored or triggered by external threats outside their sanctuary, leading to a breaking point and eventual catharsis or collapse.

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Movies with Bleak Journeys and Hopeful Endings like The Wolf Hour

Bleak journeys where characters find a fragile light after profound darkness.If you appreciated The Wolf Hour's journey from deep despair to a fragile but earned hope, explore these films. They share a pattern of placing characters under extreme psychological weight, culminating in an ending that feels hopeful and meaningful without dismissing the darkness that came before.

heavymelancholictraumatichopefulemotionalbittersweetcatharticcharacter-driven

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a character enduring a severe crisis, such as mental illness, trauma, or isolation. The narrative is predominantly bleak and heavy, focusing on their struggle. The climax involves a breakthrough or a choice to re-engage with life, leading to an ending that is hopeful yet scarred, acknowledging the journey's difficulty.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific emotional arc: they prioritize the heaviness of the struggle to make the eventual glimmer of hope feel profoundly earned. The contrast between the dark journey and the light at the end creates a powerful, bittersweet, and ultimately uplifting experience.

Unlock the Full Story of The Wolf Hour

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Wolf Hour in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Wolf Hour is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Wolf Hour Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Wolf Hour, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Wolf Hour Summary

The Wolf Hour Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Wolf Hour with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Wolf Hour Timeline

The Wolf Hour Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of The Wolf Hour? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

The Wolf Hour Ending Explained

The Wolf Hour Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Wolf Hour that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Wolf Hour Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Wolf Hour

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Wolf Hour: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Wolf Hour

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