Pack (2026)

-Written by Michelle Vorob.

2026 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Remember being a teen and feeling a bit awkward?

Maybe like you didn't belong and kept it to yourself?

Pack takes the theme and experience of feeling a bit different and throws it into full gear by adding a supernatural element.

Syd (Kory Mann) is at summer camp. She seems thoughtful, quiet, and a bit of a loner, although she doesn't know anyone there yet. She gets paired up to bunk with Ali (Amalya Barseghyan), who seems to have a similar demeanor.

Fellow camper Kenzie (Saffron Rose) is the “Queen Bee” of the popular girls, so when she invites Syd to socialize with her group, Syd accepts. The thing is, Syd needs to hide who she really is. You see, Syd is a werewolf. I know, there's a lot to unpack here.

Now, it just so happens that Syd's roommate Ali is also a werewolf, so she does have someone she can just be herself around, someone who won't judge her. But, like many teens, all Syd wants is to be part of the popular group. Well, here's where we have a problem, because Kenzie and her friends happen to be werewolf hunters. Yes. They invite Syd to go on a hunt with them.

If ever there were a better analogy for feeling like you don't belong in a group, it wouldn't beat the premise of Pack. I feel like there's enough to explore to make Pack a full length feature. Perhaps enough festival exposure will get Writer Jax Ball and Director Peiqi Peng the support they need for that endeavor. 

Pack would be such a great horror film. It's clearly an excellent short. There's a phenomenal visual effect with silver melting into Syd's neck. I would have loved to see more effects like that. I was also expecting to see some kind of werewolf hunt with gore, perhaps Syd transforming and ripping apart the popular girls. I have no idea what direction Pack would go as a full-length feature, but I'm so there for it. 

One of the things done so well in Pack is the weaving of real social/societal components. Teens wanting to belong. People wanting to belong. Feeling the need to hide your true self and the very relevant, serious issues of race, class and ethnicity affecting people's safety and quality of life. Hunting werewolves, in the context of Pack, felt akin to killing minorities, from my perception. 

I urge everyone to check out Pack, and as many of the other wonderful films available this year at Slamdance. 

Directed by Peiqi Peng.

Written by Jax Ball.

Starring Kory Mann, Amalya Barseghyan, Saffron Rose, Erika Marks, etc. 

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW