Draft:Hold the Dark

For other uses, see Hold the Dark.

Hold the Dark

Author	William Giraldi
Audio read by	Richard Ferrone
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	American psychological thriller
Published	16 September 2014 (Liveright, US)
Media type	Print (hardback)
Pages	224 (US)
ISBN	978-0-87140-667-5

Hold the Dark is a 2014 psychological thriller novel by American author William Giraldi, that tells the story of a woman who suspects her child was taken by wolves in Alaska. The narrative is told from the points of view of a writer who has studied wolves, an American soldier from Alaska, and local law enforcement. The novel was made into a Netflix film released in 2018. The audiobook editions, released by Blackstone Audio and Whole Story Audiobooks, were narrated by actor Richard Ferrone and John Moraitis.

Plot

Russell Core, a retired writer and wolf analyst, is contacted by Medora Sloane, an Alaskan mother who believes her child was taken from their village of Keelut by wolves, along with two other children from the village. Since her husband, a soldier, is away fighting in the Middle East, Medora summons Mr. Core via letter, asking him to travel to Keelut to investigate and kill the wolves that took her son. Mr. Core, having just presided over his wife's stroke recovery and decline, decides to make the trip. He has an estranged daughter in Alaska whom he considers visiting while there.

When he arrives, he finds the village of Keelut to be remote, small, and dark. He describes a feeling of otherness when he arrives, as he is the newcomer to this small community. The descriptions focus a lot on the harshness of the Alaskan weather and the seasonal daylight that dictates human activity. As Mr. Core meets Medora Sloane, she invites him to stay in her home, and asks if he has come to kill the wolves who took her son, Bailey Sloane. Mr. Core is hesitant to respond directly, as his experience has taught him that this is not the natural way of wolves. He internally reflects on a wolf he killed previously in retaliation for a human life taken in Wyoming, and he has regrets. Mrs. Sloane advises Mr. Core that his boots are not good enough for tracking wolves in their terrain. After serving him alcohol and chocolate, Mr. Core falls asleep. He wakes on the couch to see Mrs. Sloane through a crack in the bathroom door, bathing and scrubbing her skin raw. When she is finished in the bath, she enters the room naked, wearing only a strange animal mask. She lays down next to Mr. Core on the couch, prompting him to wrap his arms around her. They say nothing and fall asleep. When they awake the next day, neither of them mention the night's events.

The next morning, Mr. Core treks into the Alaskan wild to track the wolves. He finds them, and sees them feeding on one of their own babies.

Reception

Multiple media outlets compared the novel's violence and characters to that of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men.

Film adaptation

Main article: Hold the Dark

The novel was developed into a screenplay by Macon Blair, and film distribution rights were acquired first by A24, then by Netflix in 2017. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Jeffrey Wright and Riley Keough, and is directed by Jeremy Saulnier. The film adaptation of the novel screened at Toronto Film Festival on August 31, 2018.

Comparison Between the Novel and the Film

The film largely stays true to the events and tone of the novel. However, there are several key differences. First, the film does not include flashbacks to Medora Sloane's pregnancy, labor and delivery such as in the novel. Secondly, the book's ending makes clear the relationship between Medora Sloane and Vernon Sloane, which is barely insinuated in the film. Thirdly, the film is more vague about Vernon Sloane's visit to the old woman in the inn. And lastly, the ending and where the two characters end up going is clear in the novel, but unclear in the film version.