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Drama thriller

The Wolf Hour (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Wolf Hour (2019) movie poster

The Wolf Hour is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Alistair Banks Griffin, starring Naomi Watts as June Leigh, Jennifer Ehle and Kelvin Harrison Jr.. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $1,255 worldwide. Critics gave it 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10.

IMDb rating
4.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
44%
worldwide gross
$1.3K
Echo Score
47
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The Wolf Hour (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Wolf Hour About?

The premise of The Wolf Hour without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

During the hot summer of 1977, June, a former counterculture figure, withdraws into her apartment in the South Bronx. As the city faces growing unrest and escalating violence, she finds herself increasingly isolated. The threat of the infamous New York City blackout riots looms, pushing June’s already fragile existence to the breaking point as chaos descends around her.

The Wolf Hour Themes & Keywords

· 16 tags
  • female nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • year 1977
  • agoraphobia
  • writer
  • sex scene
  • riot
  • blackout
  • insanity
  • paranoia
  • apartment
  • single setting
+4 more
  • rain
  • 1970s
  • recluse
  • barefoot woman
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Cast & crew

The Wolf Hour Cast & Characters

Naomi Watts leads the cast as June Leigh, with Jennifer Ehle as Margot and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Freddie. Directed by Alistair Banks Griffin; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Wolf Hour

· 8 more
From the director

More from Alistair Banks Griffin

One more film directed by Alistair Banks Griffin: Two Gates of Sleep.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Wolf Hour Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Wolf Hour 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

47 /100

The Wolf Hour Echo Score Breakdown

In broad terms, The Wolf Hour offers an atmospheric premise that is undermined by uneven pacing and a fragmented narrative. The mood-setting evokes a sense of claustrophobic dread through restrained visuals and an unsettling sound design, yet these strengths are offset by a plot that never quite resolves its central mystery. While Naomi Watts delivers a committed performance, the overall momentum stalls too often to maintain engagement. The net result is a film that feels more forgettable than compelling.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, The Wolf Hour presents a deliberate visual approach that emphasizes muted color palettes and atmospheric composition. The production design captures the stifling apartment setting with worn textures and subdued lighting. Editing choices reinforce a sense of stasis, though occasional pacing lags weaken the overall cohesion. The film’s stylistic ambition remains clear but uneven.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, Naomi Watts delivers a measured performance that conveys persistent tension and internal conflict. Her portrayal effectively anchors the film’s exploration of isolation, though the central character often feels unsympathetic due to limited backstory and unresolved motivations. Emotional resonance peaks in moments of whispered paranoia, but overall depth falls short of fully engaging the audience.

  • Story & Flow 30

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative unfolds in a disjointed manner with prolonged stretches of atmosphere and minimal plot progression. Key elements such as the ominous buzzer and underlying mystery remain underdeveloped, leading to frustration with pacing and coherence. Although occasional twists appear, they lack sufficient buildup, resulting in a fragmented storyline.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, the film cultivates an oppressive atmosphere through a restrained soundscape and warm, low-contrast visuals. Ambient noises and the recurring buzzer motif subtly heighten unease, while the score underscores the tension with minimalistic cues. However, reliance on subdued audio-visual elements sometimes dampens suspense rather than intensifying it.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Concerning rewatch factor, The Wolf Hour offers limited incentives for repeat viewings. The film’s deliberate pacing and unresolved threads reduce its lasting appeal, and unresolved narrative questions overshadow the atmospheric strengths. While some audiences may appreciate further reflection on its thematic motifs, most are unlikely to return to its subdued and static progression.

Plot

The Wolf Hour Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Wolf Hour from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the brutal heat of 1970s New York City, former wordsmith June Leigh finds herself trapped in a self-made fortress within her grandmother’s deteriorating apartment. Once lively, the neighborhood below has transformed into a crime-ridden hellscape, but June remains anchored in her solitude, unable to summon the courage to step outside amid the notorious “Summer of Sam.” Her existence devolves into a daily cycle of anxiety, with her only connection to the world being the view from her fourth-floor window, where she gazes longingly yet helplessly at life passing by.

Full summary

The whole story of The Wolf Hour, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Wolf Hour Box Office

The Wolf Hour grossed $1,255 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.3K

International
$1.3K
Videos

The Wolf Hour Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Wolf Hour.

The Wolf Hour - Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Wolf Hour?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What significant event contributes to June's emotional distress?

Cars

Cars in The Wolf Hour

26 cars on screen, including the 1987 Ford F-150 and the 1986 Dodge Power Ram.

All 26 cars
  • 1987 Ford F-150 in The Wolf Hour 1987 Ford F-150 Main role
  • 1986 Dodge Power Ram in The Wolf Hour 1986 Dodge Power Ram Important role
  • 1999 Ford Crown Victoria in The Wolf Hour 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Important role
  • 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in The Wolf Hour 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Important role
Details

The Wolf Hour Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “더 울프 아워” and “La hora del miedo”.

Also known as
  • 더 울프 아워
  • La hora del miedo
  • A Hora do Lobo
  • 울프 아워
  • Самоизоляция
  • Η Ώρα του Λύκου
  • L'ora del lupo
  • Часът на вълка
  • Godzina wilka
  • 破晓时分
  • Na Sombra do Medo
  • הזאב מגיע
+9 more
  • Kurt Saati
  • Stunde der Angst
  • Hodina vlka
  • 破曉時分
  • Ora fricii
  • मौत का लम्हा
  • ساعة الذئب
  • ウルフ・アワー
  • วิกาลสยอง

Seen The Wolf Hour?

FAQ

The Wolf Hour FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Wolf Hour, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Wolf Hour?

The Wolf Hour runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was The Wolf Hour released?

The Wolf Hour was released on December 6, 2019.

Who directed The Wolf Hour?

The Wolf Hour was directed by Alistair Banks Griffin.

More films by Alistair Banks Griffin

Who is in the cast of The Wolf Hour?

The Wolf Hour stars Naomi Watts as June Leigh, Jennifer Ehle as Margot and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Freddie, among 12 credited actors.

How much did The Wolf Hour make at the box office?

The Wolf Hour grossed $1,255 worldwide.

How is The Wolf Hour rated?

The Wolf Hour has 4.9/10 on IMDb, 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 42 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.

Does The Wolf Hour have a post-credit scene?

No. The Wolf Hour has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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