100% Wolf

Did You Know?

• A 26-episode TV series spin-off, 100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone, screened on ABC ME on December 28, 2020.
• Season 2 of the spin-off, titled The Book of Hath, aired on ABC ME on May 1, 2023.
• A sequel titled 200% Wolf was released in August 2024.

Plot

Freddy Lupin is the young heir to a werewolf pack that protects their town and does not get along with dogs. While trying to follow his family on their nightly patrol using a magical moonstone, he loses it to an ice cream man named Foxwell Cripp, and his father Flashheart apparently dies after falling from a cliff while trying to save Cripp. Freddy's uncle Hotspur becomes the new pack leader. Six years later, Freddy experiences his first wolf transformation but turns into a poodle instead.

Faced with disdain from his pack, he is challenged to prove his wolf status by moonrise the next day or face banishment. Freddy decides to retrieve the moonstone from Cripp, who has become obsessed with proving werewolves exist. In town, Freddy befriends Batty, a mixed-breed stray dog known as 'Houndini' for escaping dog catchers. Batty helps him retrieve the moonstone, but they are caught by dog catchers and placed in the Coldfax Dog Pound, run by Hotspur.

There they meet three dogs: Hamish the Scottish Terrier, Bruno the Blue Heeler, and Twitchy the Chihuahua. Hotspur learns from Cripp that a poodle stole the moonstone and, after identifying Freddy through online pictures, takes the moonstone and abandons him. Freddy confesses to Batty and the others about his werewolf family. Cripp figures out the Lupins are werewolves.

After an escape attempt fails, Freddy is sent to a pit with 'the Beast', which turns out to be Flashheart, captured after his fall years ago. Freddy learns that Hotspur left his brother in Coldfax with a silver bracelet to keep him trapped in wolf form. Batty and the other dogs escape through vents, help free Flashheart, and learn Hotspur plans to turn all dogs into wigs. As they escape, Mrs. Mutton arrives to fight, and Twitchy and Mrs. Mutton stay behind while the others flee.

Reception

100% Wolf received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and earned $7.7 million worldwide. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 69% approval rating based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. Common Sense Media gave it 2 out of 5 stars, noting mild peril, slapstick violence, scenes inspired by classic horror movies, and potty humor, and found it entertaining but lacking educational content. The Hollywood News rated it 3 out of 5 stars, stating that the film capitalises on familiar narrative threads from films including The Lion King, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Corpse Bride to ensure family fun.

Tyler Collins of Oakville News, also giving 3 out of 5 stars, was more critical, concluding that no audience would get anything of value from seeing the film unless they want to be 100% weirded out. Cath Clarke of The Guardian praised the dog pound characters, including a pugnacious chihuahua and a doberman with a Werner Herzog accent, and noted a funny moment involving Freddy urinating like a dog. Lisa Giles-Keddie of HeyUGuys commented that the film borrows heavily from bigger budget hits, feeling at best an ode and at worst unimaginative, though Freddy is likeable.

The Globe and Mail criticised the film's predictability. A positive review in The Curb highlighted the Australian-infused charm and localised jokes.