Werewolf (2019)
A chilling Polish horror film set in the ruins of 1945, where child survivors of a Nazi camp face a terrifying new predator.
Werewolf - Movie Information
- Original Title: Wilkołak
- Release Year: 2019
- Directed by: Adrian Panek
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, War, History
- Runtime: 1h 28m
- Original Language: Polish
- Spoken Languages: Polish
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 29, 2019 (Poland), November 14, 2019 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: 늑대인간 (KR), Werewolf (UK), Werewolf (US), Hombre Lobo (CO), Perros de presa (ES)
- Production Companies: Balapolis, Telewizja Polska, Romina Di Lella & Rosco Polska, Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion, House of Netherhorror
- Production Countries: Germany, Netherlands, Poland
Werewolf - Plot
Summer of 1945. A temporary orphanage is established in an abandoned palace surrounded by forests for the eight children liberated from the Gross-Rosen camp. Hanka, also a former inmate, becomes their guardian. After the atrocities of the camp, the protagonists slowly begin to regain what is left of their childhood but the horror returns quickly. Camp Alsatians roam the forests around. Released by the SS earlier on, they have gone feral and are starving. Looking for food they besiege the palace. The children are terrified and their camp survival instinct is triggered.
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Werewolf - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Adrian Panek
Main Cast
- Nicolas Przygoda
- Kamil Polnisiak
- Sonia Mietielica
- Werner Daehn
- Danuta Stenka
- Jakub Syska
- Helena Mazur
- Krzysztof Durski
- Maksymilian Balcerowski
- Julia Ślusarczyk
Writers
- Adrian Panek
Producers
- Agata Szymańska
- Magdalena Kamińska
Werewolf - FAQs
What is Werewolf (2019) about?
Werewolf follows eight child survivors of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in the summer of 1945. Sheltered in an abandoned palace, they slowly begin to reclaim their childhood — until feral, starving Alsatians once used by the SS lay siege to the building, forcing the children to fight for survival all over again.
Are the dogs in Werewolf real threats or symbolic?
Both, really. The feral Alsatians are a genuine, terrifying physical threat throughout the film. But they also carry heavy symbolic weight — former instruments of Nazi terror now unleashed and ungovernable, mirroring the chaos and trauma that liberation couldn't simply erase for the children inside.
Where can you stream or watch Werewolf (2019)?
You can rent or buy Werewolf on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. If you'd rather not pay, it's also available with ads on both Fandango at Home Free and Tubi TV — so there are plenty of ways to catch it.
Is Werewolf based on real historical events?
The film is rooted in historical reality. The Gross-Rosen concentration camp was a genuine Nazi camp in occupied Poland, and the chaos of liberation in 1945 left many child survivors in desperate, unprotected circumstances. While the specific siege is fictional, the traumatic post-liberation setting is historically grounded.
Who are the main cast members in Werewolf?
The film centres on a young ensemble cast led by Nicolas Przygoda as Janek and Kamil Polnisiak as Władek. Sonia Mietielica plays Hanka, the children's guardian and fellow camp survivor. Veteran Polish actress Danuta Stenka also appears, lending considerable dramatic weight to the story.
Does Werewolf have a happy or hopeful ending?
Without giving too much away, Werewolf doesn't offer easy comfort. The film is unflinching about the cost of survival — both physical and psychological. Any sense of resolution is hard-won and bittersweet, very much in keeping with the film's sober, unsentimental approach to its subject matter.
How was Werewolf received by critics?
Critics responded warmly to Werewolf, praising Adrian Panek's restrained direction and the film's ability to blend historical drama with genuine horror tension. Reviewers highlighted the strong child performances and the film's refusal to exploit its difficult subject matter, calling it a thoughtful and unsettling genre entry.
What movies are similar to Werewolf (2019)?
If Werewolf hit the spot, you might also enjoy The Cursed (2021) for its period horror atmosphere, or Ginger Snaps (2000) for creature-driven dread with thematic depth. The Boy in the Woods (2023) shares the wartime survival angle, while Bunker (2023) offers another claustrophobic WWII horror experience.
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