My Thoughts on Coyotes
Coyotes kicks off in the Hollywood Hills after a major storm knocks out power in the neighborhood. where Scott is at home with his wife Liv and their daughter Chloe, and fallen trees have trapped them, turning a minor inconvenience into a potentially deadly situation.
One of the first things you notice is how the film sets its tone, as the coyotes in this movie are not just predators, they’re almost a vehicle for absurdity, and the film establishes early that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you.
There’s humor sprinkled throughout, especially in the interactions with the supporting cast, and some of their moments are unexpectedly funny. There’s something charming about the way these characters are written, as they’re allowed to be ridiculous without overwhelming the story.
The biggest challenge though comes from the coyotes themselves. and while I understand the budget limitations, but the heavy reliance on CGI is very noticeable, and there are shots of coyotes under moonlight or reflected in firelight that are visually striking, and when the movie is trying to pull you in, the CGI instead often pulls you out.
The performances themselves though are decent enough, and Long brings his usual mix of charm and subtle humor to Scott, and it makes the character believable even in the heightened circumstances, while Kate Bosworth is steady as Liv, though I found the emotional beats between her and Long a little uneven.
Coyotes best bits all come from the moments when the film embraces its horror roots - the storm, the blackout, the fallen trees - these elements create a believable sense of isolation, and when the coyotes attack, the stakes feel immediate.
The danger here is real enough to make you care, even if the creatures themselves don’t always look convincing, and there’s a certain thrill in watching a family try to survive an unpredictable force, and the movie captures that well enough.
My biggest complaint though are the tonal shifts, that were a bit too frequent for my taste, as the film jumps from suspenseful to comedic to dramatic in ways that feel a bit uneven, and the pacing sometimes undermines the tension it wants to build.
And while the family’s fight for survival is engaging and just about kept me interested enough, the narrative could have used more focus, as it’s clear the filmmakers wanted to explore multiple ideas but the pieces don’t always fit together.
But in the end, Coyotes is a film of contrasts, with its mix of humor and tension, mundane moments and absurdity, and some of it works, and some of it doesn't.
I liked the moments where the story embraced its ridiculousness, but I was less convinced by the parts that tried to force emotional depth or lean too hard into comedy, but it’s not without some charm, and for anyone interested in creature features, there’s just about enough here to keep you watching.
It's not that good, but it's entertaining enough for a one time watch, and I can see who it’s meant for, and I can also see why some people will really enjoy it. I just wish it had found a more consistent rhythm along the way.