In the small Alaskan village of Keelut three children have gone missing, presumably taken by a pack of wolves. Medora Slone, (Riley Keough) the mother of the latest victim hires wolf expert and writer Russell Core (Jeffery Wright) to track and kill the wolves. As the plot unfolds Medora’s husband Vernon (Alexander Skarsgard) returns home from the Iraq war and local police become involved in the shape of Donald Marium (James Badge Dale).

Hold the Dark is an adaptation of a novel by William Giraldi brought to us by director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin & Green Room) and actor/writer Macon Blair (who appears as an actor in all of Saulnier’s films). Anyone familiar with the exceptional Blue Ruin and the only slightly lesser Green Room will know that Saulnier excels at bleak, thoughtful films that are capable of short, sharp bursts of unflinching violence. This is no exception. It starts with what initially seems a simple premise, can Core hunt and find the wolves? But very quickly becomes much more complex. What is the difference between human and animal? What is the nature of the dark of the title that we need to hold back?

Technically the film is superb. A daunting score, beautiful photography of snowy and almost permanently dark Alaska and great performances. Wright and Badge Dale are the most interesting here and the burgeoning friendship between their characters is a small light in a dark film. Perhaps the only actor on autopilot is Skarsgard, who by now is almost typecast as a detached and menacing killer.

If you are seeking a clear answer by the final shot I would suggest giving this a miss, otherwise its worth the questions it asks.