Wolves at the Door

Wolves at the Door

Year: 2016

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: John R. Leonetti

HorrorThrillerHorror

During the Summer of Love in 1969, four friends convene at a lavish home for a farewell gathering. However, their evening takes a terrifying turn when deadly intruders arrive, transforming the party into a fight for survival. As the strangers stalk and torment them, the friends must confront a senseless and primal attack, struggling to understand the motives behind the escalating violence.

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Timeline & Setting – Wolves at the Door (2016)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Wolves at the Door (2016). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1969

The events take place in 1969, a tumultuous era in American history marked by counterculture and high-profile violent incidents. The narrative unfolds across one terrifying night and its aftermath, emphasizing the fragility of domestic security. The closing coda ties the events to broader cultural narratives of influence and fear from that period.

Location

Hollywood, California; El Coyote restaurant (Hollywood); Sharon's house, Hollywood

The story is anchored in a Hollywood home that becomes a site of intimate terror after a late-night break-in. Initial scenes track a warm social circle at El Coyote in Hollywood, before the private space of the residence is violently breached. The house shifts from sanctuary to threat, illustrating how safety can collapse in a single night.

🏚️ Home 🌙 Night 🚪 Intrusion

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:16

Main Characters – Wolves at the Door (2016)

Meet the key characters of Wolves at the Door (2016), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John (Chris Mulkey)

John is a protective husband whose routine checks become a test of resolve as a home invasion unfolds. He embodies vigilance and a drive to shield his family, pushing through fear to confront the threat. His actions anchor the family’s attempt to regain some sense of safety amid chaos.

🛡️ Protector 🗝️ Responsibility 💪 Resolve

Mary (Jane Kaczmarek)

Mary is John's wife, whose sense of safety is upended by the break-in. She provides emotional grounding for the family and demonstrates courage under pressure. Her presence highlights the toll fear takes on loved ones and the strength found in resilience.

❤️ Family 💪 Courage 🧭 Steadfast

Sharon (Katie Cassidy)

Sharon hosts the celebratory dinner and becomes central to the night’s unraveling; her pregnancy adds urgency and vulnerability. She navigates danger with a blend of instinct and determination, ultimately becoming a focal point of protective love and survival.

🤰 Pregnancy 🛡️ Protection 🏃‍♀️ Determination

Detective Clarkin (Eric Ladin)

Detective Clarkin arrives to assess the chaos and pursue answers, representing the institutional response to a home invasion. His presence underscores the attempt to restore order after personal safety has been breached.

🕵️ Investigation 🔎 Authority 🧭 Duty

Steve (Lucas Adams)

Steve is a neighbor whose act of kindness leads him into the night’s danger, illustrating how ordinary moments can intersect with violence. His experience emphasizes the vulnerability of the home’s perimeter and the randomness of peril.

🤝 Neighborliness ⚡ Danger 🧭 Fate

Jay (Miles Fisher)

Jay is a member of the group who is brutally attacked in his sleep, marking the night’s brutality. His sudden death underscores the blunt, indiscriminate nature of the threat and the fragility of safety within a close circle.

🪦 Tragedy 🕊️ Loss 💥 Violence

Wojciech (Adam Campbell)

Wojciech is another member of the group whose assault and death illustrate the night’s escalating violence. He embodies the vulnerability of individuals drawn into dangerous dynamics and the peril of crossing a line into physical harm.

🔪 Violence 💔 Death 🛡️ Courage

Abigail (Elizabeth Henstridge)

Abigail is a friend who escapes the house and seeks help, clutching a locket that ties her to the group’s memory. She navigates danger with grit and a fragile hope for rescue, becoming a witness to the night’s horror.

🗝️ Escape 🧭 Survival 🫂 Friendship

William (Spencer Daniels)

William is the host of the guesthouse where Steve arrives; he is absorbed in loud music and fails to hear the crisis, highlighting how distraction can endanger others. He provides a counterpoint to vigilance and responsibility in the story.

🎶 Music 💤 Distraction 🕯️ Indifference

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:16

Major Themes – Wolves at the Door (2016)

Explore the central themes of Wolves at the Door (2016), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏚️ Home Invasion Home Invasion

The private space of a home is violently breached, turning comfort into danger. Prolonged confinement inside a house heightens tension as the intruders loom and the occupants scramble for safety. The film uses tight, domestic spaces to explore vulnerability and resilience when the sanctuary is compromised.

🕯️ Cult Influence Cult Influence

The closing sequence foregrounds the idea that violence can be inspired by widely known cultural narratives, notably references to Charles Manson. The attackers’ behavior hints at external influences beyond personal motive, implicating media and myth in real-world violence. The film probes how cultural storytelling can legitimize or glamorize brutality.

🤝 Trust & Betrayal Trust & Betrayal

Tensions about control and independence simmer within the friend group, revealing fragility beneath surface warmth. The crisis forces characters to question loyalties and reliability when danger erupts. Fear disrupts cooperation, testing who can be trusted when survival is at stake.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:16

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Wolves at the Door Summary

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Wolves at the Door Summary

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