This year marks the 10th anniversary of Werewolf (2016), the highly acclaimed directorial debut of Ashley McKenzie starring actors Andrew Gillis and Bhreagh MacNeil, all from Unama’ki / Cape Breton. Blaise and Nessa are outcast methadone users in a small town that doesn’t offer an easy way out. Each day starts in a long lineup at the tiny pharmacy, then it’s door-to-door begging to cut grass for people who just want them to fuck off and die. At dusk they push their rusty lawnmower up a steep hill and crash in a filthy camper at the edge of town. In this bleakness, Nessa plots an escape, while Blaise lingers closer to relapse, arrest, hospitalization, or worse. Tethered to one another, their getaway dreams are kept on a suffocatingly short leash. Director Ashley McKenzie will be in attendance for a talk after the film.

Ashley McKenzie is a filmmaker based in Unama’ki / Cape Breton Island. She writes and directs films in collaboration with people in her community, compelled by stories near to her that may otherwise be overlooked. Casting locals and shooting on location bring vitality to her work and high visibility to the people and textures concealed in a remote place.

Werewolf was recently featured on The Globe and Mail’s prestigious list of “The 100 best Canadian films ever made”.