THE WOLF AND THE LAMB movie poster | ©2026 Samuel Goldwyn Films

Rating: Not Rated
Stars: Cassandra Scerbo, Eric Nelsen, Zach McGowan, James Landry Hébert, Sammi Rotibi, Elias Kacavas, Clint Howard, Rob Nagle, Mike Manning, Kevin Keppy, Hanna Balicki, William Rothlein, Jaydon Clark, Q’orianka Kilcher, Adrianne Palicki, Angus Macfadyen
Writer: Michael Schilf, story by Michael Schilf and Miah Smith
Director: Michael Schilf
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release Date: April 24, 2026

Directed and scripted by Michael Schilf from a story he wrote with Miah Smith, THE WOLF AND THE LAMB takes an agreeably unconventional approach to how it weaves supernatural horror into its other plot elements.

Usually in horror movies, regardless of when they are set, eventually every other story thread gets dropped (or at least suspended) as the characters cope with the monstrous menace.

However, in THE WOLF AND THE LAMB, everything is woven more and more tightly right through the finale. This has the benefit of giving everyone lives that extend beyond the immediate emergency, as well as providing a change of pace from more customary narrative structures.

Per the titles, we’re in the little mining town of Hemlock Gulch in the Montana Territory in 1873. There’s a fragile truce between the townspeople and the indigenous tribe in the surrounding woods.

Local children have been disappearing, causing single mother Jo Beckett (Cassandra Scerbo) to fear for her young son Henry (Jaydon Clark). Jo is the tutor to the young daughter of wealthy George (Clint Howard) and Sara Derne (Hanna Balicki).

George is involved in some shady land dealings with the local Chief Justice (William Rothlein). Rival brother owners Liz (Adrianne Palicki) and Jean LaGrange (Rob Nagle) consider teaming up to stop this, if they can just figure out how.

Town doctor Roy Hawkins (Eric Nelsen) is loquacious but treats Liz and Jean’s sex workers with respect and compassion. He’s also courting Jo.

New town Reverend Elias Frémont (Angus Macfadyen) is dismayed by racist talk from Sheriff Frank Martin (Zach McGowan) and his deputy Jim Cooley (James Landry Hébert), while younger deputy Charlie Quinn (Elias Kacavas) wrestles with how best to keep the peace.

Black former soldier Solomon Ross (Sammi Rotibi) is worried for his indigenous wife Mary (Q’orianka Kilcher), who senses something wicked this way comes.

With all these moving parts, the filmmakers keep the pace lively while marshaling our sympathies in the proper direction. Also, because some of the rules are flipped here, it not only takes us a little while to determine what’s happening, but also to wonder alongside our protagonists what, if anything, can be done.

The cast is extremely good, conveying certainty from a variety of viewpoints. Scerbo is convincingly determined and distraught, Hensen, Rotibi and Kilcher all persuade us of their characters’ rectitude, McGowan is cool as the top lawman, and Howard has a venal gleam in his eye as the avaricious Derne. Young Clark impresses in a difficult role.

The period aspects of THE WOLF AND THE LAMB are handled well without being showy, with lots of wood and dirt reminding us of era and location. (The film was shot in Montana, adding to the verisimilitude of the environment.)

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB blends a number of traditional concepts together, resulting in a configuration that feels pleasingly new and unpredictable.

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