Wolwedans in die Skemer

Forget the naysayers. This film wasn't shot on a shoestring production like Blair Witch, and it is not a big budgeted Hollywood Blockbuster either. It is a legitimate attempt at a decent suspense and should be given a fair chance in a Tinseltown-dominated environment where smaller independent film makers have great ideas which never see the light.

Everyone was nailed to their seats until the end, and that is what a suspense film is supposed to do. It is not a horror slasher, but I'd bet a fair amount that if someone tapped me on the shoulder during the film, I'd be in a row closer to the front.

I would say that character progression could have been a bit more emphasized, that's my only gripe.

Loosely translated, 'Wolwedans in die Skemer' means Dance of the wolves at dusk. In this instance, the wolves can be interpreted literally (as there are wolves in the movie as well), and figuratively.

It's rare for South Africa to make a horror movie. Let alone a horror movie in Afrikaans. Not since 1986's 'Nag van Vrees' has there been such a suspenseful Afrikaans movie, or not that I recall anyway. This is a nice diversion from the bitter-sweet films of late.

Based on a popular radio story from the 80's, many fans might not enjoy this visualization of 'Wolwedans in die Skemer'. As for me, who never followed the radio story, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed the different characters and their back stories. The heroin is Sonja (Rolanda Marais). On her way to Hotel Njala to work as the new receptionist, she's in a freak car accident. When she comes to, she suffers amnesia.

Once she starts working, trivial moments and incidents sees her memories coming back. Fearing she might have done something bad, she is initially reluctant to discover who she really is. With the help of charming tour guide Ryno (David Louw) she tries to piece together her past. When people start dying, however, a detective tries to solve the mystery, and the film becomes an interesting whodunit murder mystery.

We haven't seen many films in this vein in South Africa, and I found it refreshingly original. Afrikaans directors, especially, are cautious experimenting with different genres, since the Afrikaans audience mainly prefer romantic comedies or dramas. As a horror fan, I was pleasantly surprised to see a film of this caliber in the Afrikaans language.

The editing, sound, photography and cinematography are of International standard - probably among the best I've seen in a South African film - and I have to compliment director Jozua Malherbe on a job well done.

There's a very interesting reveal towards the end, but the film then dishes up more twist reveals. It would have sufficed with the one twist, because the twist that followed almost ruined the effect of the first twist. This could have been better written in order to have one shock element only.

Regardless, 'Wolwedans in die Skemer' is mysterious and suspenseful, and I enjoyed the killer being a hooded figure looking like Little Red Riding Hood. It allowed for a much creepier villain. This is definitely still one of the better South African films out there.

I went into the movie with a positive mind, expecting a thriller. The camera work and production was good, better than expected, but that is where the positiveness ends.

The lead characters were dumb and unlikeable, the script was dull and nonsensical, and if you consider this a thriller, you need a psychologist, a few people actually walked out, but me, regrettingly, being brave stayed to see if there is a twist, but no, it was a drama type of twist, NOT A FREAKING THRILLER.

The wolves have nothing to do with the story.

Don't waste your time.

This movie is really good I did not read the book I did not listen to tjhe story when it was on the radio neither have I ever watched the 80's TV series. I think that's why I like it so much and gave it a nine because you all know that when they make a movie of a TV series a lot gets cut and then its not good. So I'm kind of glad I never read or saw before. Wolwedans in die skemer is about a girl Sonja Daneel(Rolanda Marais) who is on her way to her knew job as receptionist at Hotel Njala but one the way she see a wolf a tree gets knocked over into th road she loses control of her cars and crash hit her head and can't remember anything. The hotel manger and her sister Maggie(Desire Gardener and Lelia Etsabeth) found her in the woods.Inher room she can feel something is nt right and then dead body after dead body is discovered. Like I said suspenseful and good. Go and take a look