Set against gorgeous Utah scenery, "The Legend of Wolf Mountain" is a low-budget family film from Craig Clyde, former local TV and radio personality who has also acted in numerous films.
Though he had some success with his previous writing-directing effort on video, the family oriented "Little Heroes," "The Legend of Wolf Mountain" marks Clyde's first theatrical venture. And it's been a rocky road since his distributor, Hemdale Films, went bankrupt just before the movie was to receive a national release.
As for the film itself, there are weaknesses but on the whole it makes for a pleasant enough diversion for youngsters.
The story has three kids (Nicole Lund, Matthew Lewis, Jonathan Best) being inadvertently kidnapped by a pair of crooks (Robert Z'Dar, David Shark) on the run. The trio eventually escapes while being driven through the fictional Wolf Mountain National Forest. And when they sabotage the criminals' escape vehicle, it becomes a chase through the thicket.
Aid comes from an unexpected source, however, when an old American Indian legend about a wolf that turns into a warrior (Don Shanks) proves to be true (though only young Lund can see his human incarnation).
The film unnecessarily dots the cast with "names" — specifically Bo Hopkins and Mickey Rooney — though it's hard to believe anyone will seek out the picture because they are in it. And the biggest weakness is one of the children (Best), who hams it up in a way that belies his character. (Tighter editing might have helped soften this problem since it is most evident in moments that run too far past the punchline.)
The two other kids are pretty good, however, and director Clyde does evoke sympathy for them. He also tries to portray the crooks as bumbling nincompoops, so as to avoid any serious sense of danger, which would be more a bit more acceptable if one of them wasn't continually threatening to kill the kids and pointing his gun at them.
Clyde takes full advantage of his location, however, showing off the Oquirrh Mountains' lush forest look and allowing it to almost become as much of a character as the actors . . . and the wolf.
"The Legend of Wolf Mountain" is rated PG for violence.