Watch A Wolf at the Door

A Wolf at the Door is a Brazilian suspense film from 2013 that tells the story of a young girl's kidnapping and the investigation that follows. Directed by Fernando Coimbra and starring Leandra Leal, Milhem Cortaz, and Fabiula Nascimento, the film takes place in a middle-class neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro and explores the darker side of human nature.

The movie starts with a scene of the young girl, named Clara, being taken by a stranger from her school. We then see her parents, Sylvia (Leandra Leal) and Bernardo (Milhem Cortaz), trying to find her and dealing with the police investigation. The film is told through a series of flashbacks that take place over the course of several days.

The plot thickens when Sylvia learns that her husband has been having an affair with a woman named Rosa (Fabiula Nascimento), who seems to have some connection to the kidnapping. As the investigation continues, Sylvia becomes increasingly suspicious of Bernardo and Rosa's involvement in the crime.

The film is a slow burner, building tension and suspense throughout as the mystery of Clara's disappearance unfolds. The three main actors put in strong performances, particularly Leal as the distraught mother determined to find her daughter. Cortaz plays the flawed husband convincingly, while Nascimento is suitably mysterious and enigmatic as Rosa.

The film is shot with a handheld camera, giving it a gritty, almost documentary-like feel. The cinematography is effective in creating a sense of unease and uncertainty, particularly during the night-time scenes. The sound design is also notable, with the music and sound effects adding to the tension of the film.

One of the strengths of A Wolf at the Door is its exploration of the themes of jealousy and betrayal. Sylvia's suspicions of her husband's infidelity add an extra layer of complexity to the plot, and the film delves into the psychological effects of such betrayal on a personal level. The film also touches on the wider issue of social inequality in Brazil, with the kidnapping of a middle-class girl being a stark example of how crime can affect all levels of society.

Overall, A Wolf at the Door is a well-crafted suspense film that keeps the audience engaged throughout. The performances are strong, the cinematography and sound design add to the tension of the film, and the themes of jealousy and betrayal add an extra layer of depth to the plot. It is a dark and disturbing portrait of human nature that lingers long after the credits have rolled.

A Wolf at the Door is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 67.