PJ Palfrey and his girlfriend Brianne venture to the picturesque Snow Hollow, Utah, for a vacation that quickly turns unsettling when PJ becomes embroiled in a heated dispute with two local hunters. Later that night, a shocking event occurs at their rental house—Brianne falls victim to a brutal attack. PJ's horror escalates as he discovers her mutilated body, along with a mysterious paw print etched in the fresh snow.
The scene soon attracts the attention of John Marshall, a deputy sheriff grappling with the demons of alcoholism. As he examines the grim murder scene, he is confronted with an even more horrifying reality: Brianne's body is missing its genitalia and other considerable parts. The chilling situation deepens when a local snowboarding instructor is found dead under similarly gruesome circumstances—her head and an arm violently severed, and traces of wolf fur found on her lifeless form. Under increasing pressure, John confronts an officer who divulges information to the press, suggesting the killer might be a wolf, further complicating the investigation.
As tensions rise, John’s struggles lead him back into alcohol as a means of coping. While he and officer Julia Robson are on their way to work the following day, an anonymous assailant hurls a beer bottle at their vehicle, setting off a wave of paranoid sightings within the community. Among these reports is a peculiar encounter recounted by local resident Liz Fairchild, who describes a tall, shadowy figure at a diner. Meanwhile, John's father, Sheriff Hadley, is diagnosed with serious heart issues, and despite John's insistence on treatment, Hadley remains stubbornly resistant to seeking help. This family crisis intensifies when Liz and her young child are tragically murdered later that night.
Determined to uncover potential connections between the victims, John meticulously examines town records while delving into werewolf lore as he tries to piece together the emerging puzzle. As they continue their investigation, John's team discovers the curious tall man sought out Liz at her workplace, leading to the imposition of a curfew and heightened vigilance around town. After another concerning health incident, Hadley reluctantly agrees to step back and receive medical care.
In a surprising twist, Jenna, John’s daughter, sneaks off to meet her boyfriend and becomes embroiled in a terrifying encounter where the wolfman strikes and injures her. John, responding to her distress call, shoots at the elusive creature, only for it to escape once more, this time claiming the life of a sheriff's deputy by stuffing the body into a trash can.
A pivotal confrontation arises when John's frustration boils over after Jenna confronts him about his disengagement, pointing out that it's the reason she’s leaving for college on a gymnastics scholarship. Overwhelmed by grief from Hadley's death and the mounting pressures of the investigation, John finds himself ostracized from his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The discovery of a dead man suspected of being the killer fuels further rumors, pointing towards a rogue individual living in a camper outside of town.
When the coroner undermines John's abilities and threatens to leak information about his struggles, a tough decision looms. As John continues to gather evidence, PJ informs Robson about a seam ripper he found, prompting them to investigate taxidermist Paul Carnury—who raises John's suspicions when he displays knowledge of Jenna's attack that seems impossible without being directly involved.
In a tense climax, John confronts Paul, who reveals his towering height and subsequently assaults John. Though badly wounded, John perseveres, eventually catching up with Paul, who transforms into a wolf costume in a desperate bid to escape. As sirens wail, John's resolve leads him to shoot Paul multiple times in the head before collapsing from his injuries, leaving an uncertain fate hanging in the balance.
With the dust settling, Julia Robson emerges as the new sheriff of Snow Hollow. Alongside John, she assists Jenna in her transition to college life, as John leaves her with heartfelt gestures of protection—condoms and his gun. As he watches her step into this new chapter, he overhears two fellow students making inappropriate remarks, but chooses to walk away, realizing some battles are best left unengaged.
