There have previously been films about psychiatric hospitals and insane asylums (as they were earlier called), but this one lends a unique angle: The patients all suffer from species dysphoria, which means they think they’re an animal instead of human. George MacKay stars as a man who believes he’s a wolf. He’s sent to this special clinic, where unusual curative therapies are applied. Despite the uniqueness of the subject, writer/director Nathalie Biancheri chose to add a traditional love story. This one features Lily-Rose Depp as a wildcat, but despite their species’ inherent enmity, they manage to fall in love. This is primarily MacKay’s movie: He’s in almost every scene and does a convincing job of creating a character in turmoil, while capturing some of his animal’s traits. Otherwise, the semi-absurdity of the whole concept isn’t matched by a gratifying emotional experience, leaving it more a weird experiment. 
(2 / 5)
