I like a good gritty dramatic movie and they get bonus points for having some unexpected scenes that really add to the movie. This movie kept me guessing and interested. If you like a methodical character study, you'll like this. It reminded me of Girl with a Dragon Tattoo or No Country for Old Men.
Hold the Dark tells the story of an author responding to a mother in distress. He has a background in hunting wolves, and she needs him to hunt the wolf that killed her son. Soon, he gets embroiled in a deeper darkness when her husband comes back after getting injured in combat in the Middle East. He finds himself tangled in a web of violence and revenge, trying to navigate his way out and find justice for the lost child and get to the bottom of this mystery.
I really enjoy movies like this. This one started a tad slower than I would prefer, but it revved up quickly. It was surprising and violent and gritty. Often, though, I had a hard time accepting the dialogue. Perhaps it was trying to convey the lack of society that the characters possessed, but it came off as a bit clunky and hard to swallow, which detracted from the movie for me. Still, I really enjoyed it. It was a dark view into a different world, which I love. If you have similar tastes, you'll enjoy this movie. If not... well... read Bethany's review.