Alpha Wolf’s creator loved the classic werewolf story but felt that he had a unique idea to inject. The film depicts a couple who had moved into a secluded cabin in an attempt to salvage their relationship. They find their world torn apart when the husband transforms into a murderous werewolf. Things grow even more bizarre when the family dog leaps in to save the wife and…sorry, you’ll have to watch the film for the completely jaw dropping twist that occurs and transforms Alpha Wolf into the most unusual werewolf film yet. There are many layers to the story and the location itself is one. There’s something different about this town and its residents, the local sheriff’s department included. Rogers is perfectly cast as James Carradine, the Sheriff of this small town. He is a large man with long hair, who carries himself with an almost all-knowing confidence. Ambiguity surrounds the character while James portrays him with an implied omniscience. Kevin VanHook (comic book creator and a filmmaker) professes,
“James was always on my wish list for the role of the sheriff. He brought a lot of star power to the film. He’s known for his action, drama, and comedy work. He is an actor of immense size and talent. The role of Sheriff Carradine required many qualities that are rare in an actor. Perhaps most importantly, James had to hint at who he might be without giving too much away. He had to make a serious impact on the audience without convincing them exactly who or what he is, which is exactly what we needed to spark interest in the sequel. It’s a very fine line to walk and quite difficult to do…and James did it perfectly. When you see the film you think that there’s no one else who could have played this role.”
Sheriff Carradine is a vital character to the film but does not appear in the majority of the film. It’s an odd situation that an actor is brought aboard a production not solely for his contributions to it but to foreshadow his role in the sequel. While Vanhook new the role and his choice in the actor to play him was impressive, he had the intention of building the sequel around him rather than this initial production. A large portion of current horror productions operate under this method. James reveals, “The writing in the script was beautiful and the idea is so original; we all knew that the film was special. My role was key for the sequel so when I got on camera I needed to project for the sequel and yet not take away from the current film. It was a new situation for me to be. Sheriff Carradine was in the movie at crucial points and I needed to make sure his presence was felt but I couldn’t give too much of it away.”
A co-star with James in Alpha Wolf is Robert Mukes, known for his work in HBO’s “Westworld” and horror classic House of 1,000 Corpses. At 6’ 10” himself and with more than a decade and a half in the film industry, Mukes knows a lot about the demands of being an actor in physical roles. Mukes declares his admiration for Rogers after his experience working with him on Alpha Wolf stating, “I’m a big guy who been acting in films for quite some time now. James definitely has the acting skills to star alongside all of the great actors he has been working with, there’s ample proof in all of his varied performances that he has earned his place alongside so many notable actors. What truly impressed me was his timing, pace, and attention to detail. He can definitely hang right there with the very best whether it a combat scene of a comedic one. When it comes to action sequences, he is a true master. It was an absolute pleasure to work with an actor like James who seems to have it all.”
James Preston Rogers has cultivated diversity for himself as an actor. By taking the unexpected and the obvious roles for a man of his physical stature, he has continued to challenge both his own skills and the preconceptions that both those in the TV/Film industry and the audience might have of him. Accepting this role in Alpha Wolf, one which is focused more on what will happen in the sequel rather than a character arc which occurs in the current film…it’s just more proof that this is an actor who likes to take a risk. He is investing in a long career, one which based on the amount of praise he has received and the established and recognizable (as well as those not as well-known) co-stars that he works alongside…is already well under way.