Werewolves in the Kootenays, eh?
A Canadian Werewolf in Montana
by W. K. Shephard
Altona: Friesen Press, 2025
$11.99 /9781038319982
Reviewed by Zoe McKenna
*
There’s a time and place for high-budget horror movies with an all-star cast and gorgeous cinematography. Yet, as most horror buffs will remind you, the true heart of the genre lies with corny, campy flicks that turn a tiny budget into something so unapologetically earnest and goofy that the horror is more laughable than truly terrifying. Often, these cheesy B-films become so beloved, despite their flaws, that they develop a rabid cult following for decades to come—think Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street.
Another movie that withstands the test of time is John Landis’ American Werewolf in London, an iconic 1981 film about two friends who are backpacking through Britain. The trip is going well until they are attacked by a werewolf that kills one friend and seriously maims the other (spoilers, I know, but the film is 44 years old). While American Werewolf in London might not fit all the criteria of a true B-film (a budget nearly 11x that of Friday the 13th disqualifies it right out the gate), it is a horror-comedy that embraces the unlikely balance between terror and laughter, as many B-films are known to do.
It’s no wonder, then, that Kimberly-based author W. K. Shephard took inspiration from this movie for his first novel, A Canadian Werewolf in Montana. Shephard has lived in Kimberly for three years, before which he worked as a firefighter in Nova Scotia and as a member of the RCMP for nearly a decade in Manitoba. This lived experience is clear throughout the novel, as are his other areas of expertise: werewolf lore, cinema, and detective work.
A Canadian Werewolf opens with a woman screaming in the night, desperately trying to escape from a yet-unknown beast. Two days later, police officers Andrew and Logan arrive at Fernie Police Department to collect a prisoner, James. Despite being on their way to collect a violent criminal, one responsible for brutally attacking a woman, spirits are high. Andrew and Logan sing along to tongue-in-cheek wolfy tunes on their way to the detachment, such as “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf and CCR’s “Bad Moon on the Rise.”
As the trip south continues, Andrew and Logan remain lighthearted. Eventually, even James joins in on their road trip sing-along. The journey seems to be going well until James starts convulsing. He boils and disappears into the woods. Before they know it, Andrew and Logan are face-to-face with “a massive brown wolf.” The situation immediately falls apart. Andrew and Logan’s attempts at self-defence are useless. The wolf tears into Andrew’s throat and leaves the man bleeding out at the roadside.
In a recent interview, Shephard shared that his motivation for writing A Canadian Werewolf was driven, in part, by the desire to address a lack of scary werewolf cinema or media in recent years. In reality, A Canadian Werewolf joins good company. Werewolves and werewolf-adjacent figures, such as the rougarou, have been featured in several remarkable novels of the past ten years, such as Cherie Dimaline’s Empire of Wild, and Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones.
A Canadian Werewolf, coming in at just over 20,000 words, may serve as a manageable launchpad for those werewolf newbies looking to dip their toes into the genre. Shephard’s writing style is modern and direct, if unpolished. Little time is afforded to background or world-building, favouring action, and dialogue. Shephard’s characters curse candidly, discuss popular media, and most notably, fall into Canadian cliché by saying “thank you” and “sorry” too many times to count.
Fans of American Werewolf in London will enjoy A Canadian Werewolf. Both pieces share the same heartfelt embrace of iconic werewolf lore, a tragic but charming peek at wholesome male friendships, and a careful balance between horror and humour.
If anything, A Canadian Werewolf suffers from its close similarities to An American Werewolf. Shephard does make some notable changes from the film—the setting, as a clear example. Yet, despite the cheeky Canadian stereotypes woven throughout, the novel follows the plot of American Werewolf nearly beat-for-beat. Two close friends encounter a werewolf while on a trip, resulting in one’s tragic and gruesome death. The survivor is haunted by his friend’s death and finds solace in the company of a woman he meets due to the werewolf attack (in American Werewolf, the protagonist falls for a nurse. In A Canadian Werewolf, a policewoman).
As a result, A Canadian Werewolf is likely to leave many readers wanting more. While it’s a fun homage to American Werewolf, it lacks the excitement and uncertainty of not knowing what happens next. Knowing Shephard’s affinity for werewolf lore, this debut feels like only the tip of the iceberg in terms of unique and original plotlines he might explore. Luckily, Shephard has confirmed that A Canadian Werewolf is the first in a four-book series titled The Montana Chronicles. Hopefully, the next instalment will demonstrate more of what Shephard has to offer.
*
Zoe McKenna received a MA from the UVic and a BA from VIU. Her research focuses on horror writing, with a focus on stories by women. She was the Assistant Editor of That Witch Whispers and her writing has also appeared in Black Cat, Malahat Review, and Quill & Quire. When not at her desk, Zoe can be found haunting local bookstores and hiking trails. Zoe gratefully acknowledges that she is a guest on the traditional territory of the Puneluxutth (Penelakut) Tribe and the hul’qumi’num speaking peoples. Find her on Twitter. [Editor’s note: Zoe McKenna has reviewed books by Ron Prasad, Peter Darbyshire, Richard Van Camp, Nalo Hopkinson, Marcus Kliewer, Ivana Filipovich, Giselle Vriesen, Scott Alexander Howard, S.W. Mayse, Linda Cheng, Paul Cresey, Michelle Min Sterling, Eve Lazarus, David Wallace, David Ly & Daniel Zomparelli, Sophie Sullivan, kc dyer, Robyn Harding, and Lindsay Cameron for BCR.]
*
The British Columbia Review
Interim Editors, 2023-26: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction and poetry)
Publisher: Richard Mackie
Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an on-line book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.
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