“This completely wild thriller has to be seen to be believed,” is how The Guardian newspaper titled its review of the series “Wolf,” which the BBC aired this summer. “Twisted,” “gory,” “funny” and even “disturbing” are other adjectives the British press and viewers have used to describe the six-part production that HBO Max has just released in Spain. Many of the critics and public comments on the networks agreed that it was difficult to classify a proposal that combines thriller, drama, police investigation, violence and dark humor. “It’s a lot of different things, but most of all I would say it’s entertaining. “It’s a twisted and entertaining crime series for people who like a crime story presented a little differently,” its creator Megan Gallagher tries to emphasize.
More information
Wolf adapts British writer Mo Hayder’s novel of the same name, starring Inspector Jack Caffery, a regular character in the author’s work. The series presents two stories set in different timelines. In one case, Caffery, an inspector haunted by his brother’s disappearance as a child, becomes obsessed with reopening an old case. The other story is about a wealthy family returning to their mansion where they are taken hostage by two men whose intentions are not entirely clear other than to give them the worst time possible. Developing with constant twists and different tones, the two stories seem to follow different paths and timelines until the two intersect. “Wolf is different from other crime novels in many ways. I’m a big fan of crime television, but I think that sometimes these shows tend to fall into certain patterns that can make them a little predictable. I don’t think there’s anything predictable about Wolf. It is not a series created according to a formula,” says Gallagher, writer and executive producer of the series, speaking to EL PAÍS via video call.
Ukweli Roach plays Detective Jack Caffrey in Wolf. Simon Ridgway (BBC/Hartswood Films Ltd/Simon Ridgway)
For the author, the biggest challenge in this disturbing story was also what she enjoyed most: maintaining the balance between these two very different storylines. “One is a very haunting and immediate horror story about terrible things happening in a house. It’s very close to classic horror. Everyone’s worst nightmare is coming true and the threat is before you. “The Other Story” is a slow-paced detective mystery drama. Finding the balance between the two, how much to reveal about each story, checking whether they have enough twists and hooks, whether they intertwine well… was the most challenging but also the most fun.”
Added to the plot combination is a very peculiar variation of tones, ranging from the intimate drama of the detective, to the tension due to the torture the family is subjected to, to black comedy and even the occasional musical comedy. This sound mix, explains the screenwriter, already exists in Mo Hayder’s books, she just amplified it for the screen. In this play, Gallagher highlights the torture that the three characters face in the mansion. “It was fun to write,” he laughs, “especially because no matter how brutal things get, there’s something very comforting behind it, and that’s humor.” I think the intensity and the horror that you experienced there, are in harmony with a lot of heart. Yes, it’s brutal, but I think it never stops being fun. The screenwriter refers, among other things, to scenes in which the torturers put on small musical or dance numbers, to the amazement of the tortured and the viewers of the series.
Actress Juliet Stevenson plays Matilda Anchor-Ferrers, the mother of the tortured family in “Wolf.” Simon Ridgway (BBC/Hartswood Films Ltd/Simon Ridgway)
Those sequences in which two men just want to make life difficult for their victims raised many questions for the creators and producers of the series. How far do I have to go? What should be shown and what not? “We’ve had a lot of conversations about it, but I think most of the series is based on the threat of terrible things happening, rather than terrible things actually happening.” For me, the worst thing is the anticipation, the anticipation of what’s going to happen. what could happen. We don’t indulge in 12-minute scenes of someone bleeding to death. It is more the anticipation of what could happen than the actual torture felt. I think it’s more creative,” explains the screenwriter.
Some reviews mentioned references such as Stanley Kubrick’s films Clockwork Orange or Michael Haneke’s Funny Games to explain the tone of this part of Wolf. When asked about sources of inspiration for his story beyond the original novel, Gallagher thinks for a few seconds: “I’ll tell you what I didn’t have as a reference. I don’t know why, but I haven’t seen Funny Games, which is a reference that a lot of people have mentioned. It’s a little strange because it’s the kind of movie I think I’d like, but it passed me by. And I still haven’t seen it. Now I did it on purpose because I didn’t want to be influenced.”
A picture from the second episode of the series “Wolf”.Simon Ridgway (Simon Ridgway)
For such an unconventional bet, it was necessary to have a cast of actors committed to the cause. Ukweli Roach (Blindspot) plays the detective. “He is important because everything around him is so intense that you need someone to believe in and trust,” says the creator. “For the story in the house, you can write anything in the script, but if an actor isn’t 100% committed, if they’re not able to do these really complicated scenes, if they’re not sure or don’t have experience have, it won’t work. to function.” The focus of these scenes are the two torturers, played by Sacha Dhawan (The Great, Iron Fist) and Iwan Rheon. The latter, known for playing the perverted Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, returns to play a disturbed sociopath. “He was the first actor to sign and the first we chose for this character. I think he has a huge range of skills. It can be incredibly scary, which makes it very, very good. But he also embroiders it into the comic elements. “People are going to love seeing everything they can in these six episodes,” emphasizes the writer and executive producer.
Megan Gallagher already had experience as a screenwriter in other thrillers such as Borderliners (Netflix) or Suspects (Apple TV+). It’s a genre he says he’s always had a passion for because he likes television “that gets attention.” “I like getting addicted or figuring out a puzzle or trying to follow what’s happening and put the pieces together. That’s the kind of television I like and that’s what thrillers offer. And I think Wolf too.”
You can watch EL PAÍS TELEVISIÓN in Twitter or sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.
Get the TV newsletter
All the latest news from broadcasters and platforms, with interviews, news and analyses, as well as recommendations and reviews from our journalists
LOG IN