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Mystery drama

To Kill a Wolf (2025): Cast & Ratings

To Kill a Wolf (2025) movie poster

To Kill a Wolf is a 2025 mystery drama directed by Kelsey Taylor, starring Maddison Brown as Dani, Dana Millican and David Knell. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes. Critics gave it 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Echo Score
89
Metascore
80
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To Kill a Wolf (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Kelsey Taylor
Genres
Drama , Mystery
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is To Kill a Wolf About?

The premise of To Kill a Wolf without spoilers.

On the edge of Oregon’s wilderness, a reclusive woodsman finds a hypothermic teenage runaway named Dani. After rescuing her, he grudgingly promises to take her back to her grandmother. As they journey together, the two strangers with troubled pasts forge an unexpected bond while confronting the harsh forest and their own demons.

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Cast & crew

To Kill a Wolf Cast & Characters

Maddison Brown leads the cast as Dani, with Dana Millican as Detective Coyne and David Knell as The Rancher. Directed by Kelsey Taylor; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in To Kill a Wolf

· 6 more
Ratings

To Kill a Wolf Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave To Kill a Wolf 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 89/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (80).

89 /100

To Kill a Wolf Echo Score Breakdown

To Kill a Wolf delivers a resonant adaptation of the classic fable through restrained direction, meticulous visual design, and committed performances, resulting in a consistently affecting drama. Critics and audiences alike commend the film’s solemn tone, nuanced acting, and striking cinematography that together reinforce its themes of trauma and redemption. While the narrative remains tightly constructed, occasional pacing lulls prevent it from reaching full brilliance. Overall, the film stands as a compelling, thoughtfully crafted work that rewards attentive viewing.

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

  • Art & Craft 88

    Regarding art and craft, the film demonstrates careful direction and a subdued visual palette that accentuates its somber mood. Critics note the elegance of its framing and the striking cinematography that renders the forest an active presence, while users echo the beauty of the visual composition. Editing remains measured, preserving a restrained rhythm that supports the narrative without drawing attention to itself.

  • Character & Emotion 87

    When evaluating character and emotion, the ensemble delivers restrained yet potent performances that convey internal conflict without excess dialogue. Critics highlight the depth of the leads’ portrayals and the chemistry that grounds the fable in human stakes, and users specifically praise the stellar work of Maddison Brown and the overall acting strength. The emotional resonance emerges from subtle gestures, making the characters feel authentic and sympathetic.

  • Story & Flow 85

    In terms of story and flow, the adaptation reinterprets the Red Riding Hood motif with a modern, trauma‑focused lens, offering an original perspective on familiar beats. Critics appreciate the measured pacing and the narrative’s capacity to sustain tension, while viewers report lingering engagement and a desire for the film to continue. The plot remains coherent, though its hour‑plus runtime occasionally compresses thematic exploration.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    The sensory experience is dominated by a lush, naturalistic visual style that treats the forest as a narrative character, a point emphasized by both critics and users. While specific commentary on sound design is limited, the ambient score and restrained audio complement the visual tone, enhancing the film’s haunting atmosphere. Overall, the sensory elements cohere to reinforce the story’s emotional weight.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    The rewatch factor stems from the film’s understated storytelling and emotional depth, which encourage multiple viewings to uncover nuanced details. Critics and audience members alike note that the film’s restraint and lingering thematic concerns leave a lasting impression, prompting reflection after the credits roll. Although the concise runtime limits extensive plot development, the overall impact remains strong enough to motivate repeat engagement.

Videos

To Kill a Wolf Trailers & Videos

The trailer of To Kill a Wolf.

TO KILL A WOLF | Official Trailer | In select theaters August 1

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FAQ

To Kill a Wolf FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of To Kill a Wolf, each answered in a sentence.

How long is To Kill a Wolf?

To Kill a Wolf runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was To Kill a Wolf released?

To Kill a Wolf was released on August 1, 2025.

Who directed To Kill a Wolf?

To Kill a Wolf was directed by Kelsey Taylor.

More films by Kelsey Taylor

Who is in the cast of To Kill a Wolf?

To Kill a Wolf stars Maddison Brown as Dani, Dana Millican as Detective Coyne and David Knell as The Rancher, among 10 credited actors.

How is To Kill a Wolf rated?

To Kill a Wolf has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 80 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

Does To Kill a Wolf have a post-credit scene?

No. To Kill a Wolf has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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