“Alfie, the Little Werewolf” (Dolfje Weerwolfje) is a film based on a series of popular children’s books by Dutch author Paul Van Loon. It was in theatres in the Netherlands in November 2011, but it’s recently popped up at a few international film festivals (Toronto, Dubai). I think Tandye’s reaction after seeing the trailer speaks for us both: “Oh my God, that is the cutest thing I ever saw.”
Alfie has no idea what is happening to him when, on the night of his seventh birthday, he changes into a small, white, furry animal: a little wolf. By the light of the full moon, he runs through the park and the neighbours’ gardens, chasing chickens and ducks. The next morning, he wakes up as himself, an ordinary little boy. Now he starts to realise why he has always felt so different from his foster parents and his foster brother Timmie. He’s a werewolf. But sensitive little Alfie doesn’t want to be different. He just wants to be normal, like everybody else. He’s afraid his father and mother won’t want to have anything to do with him once they find out he is a werewolf. So Alfie wants to keep it a secret at any cost, but that’s not as easy as it seems. After all, there’s a full moon every month…
If your job is to acquire films for the North American market, come on. Come oonnnnnn. A cute little family-friendly werewolf kid with glasses (and a ton of merch)? You’ll be rich!