Murkiness of ‘Wolf Lake’ Adds to Mystery’s Appeal

Wolves are such smart, compelling animals, who can say why they have been unfairly demonized throughout history, from “Little Red Riding Hood” to Lon Chaney Jr. schlepping around under a full moon as tragically misunderstood Wolf Man?

Yet they endure as howling heavies of literature poised to tear out our throats, as in “Wolf Lake,” a pretty fair supernatural drama arriving tonight on CBS, with Lou Diamond Phillips as Seattle cop John Kanin traveling to a remote Pacific Northwest hamlet in search of his vanished girlfriend, Ruby (Mia Kirshner).

What is Ruby’s connection to Wolf Lake, and why do the eyes of some of its residents glow red?

After opening with a bit of gratuitous sex, “Wolf Lake” settles into nice, middlebrow eeriness, with outsider Kanin getting swept up in an apparent power struggle between the town’s opposing groups of wolfie humans. This is just speculation, but they may include real estate developer Tyler Creed (Scott Bairstow) and the Cates family, Willard (Bruce McGill), Vivian (Sharon Lawrence) and Luke (Paul Wasilewski).

On the other hand, why is Sheriff Matthew Donner (Tim Matheson) acting so suspiciously himself? If his rebellious daughter, Sophia (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), keeps dating Luke, will some of his alleged wolfieness rub off on her? What is it with high school biology teacher Sherman Blackstone (Graham Greene) and those magic tricks? And is there a Buffy-esque werewolf slayer in the house?

You’d find answers here, but the premiere ends as inky as it begins, its ambiguity making it all the more appealing as Kanin gradually strips back layers of intrigue in a dark locale where nights outnumber days about 10 to 1, and the forest is a place to avoid unless you’re carrying a bazooka.

By the way, is that white wolf really who you think it is? And how is Kanin able to keep his job in Seattle when he spends his time in Wolf Lake? If you worry about that, you’re watching the wrong show, for every good wolf story requires suspension of disbelief.

Now get outta here, and remember, kids, don’t try any of this or walk on all fours at home.

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“Wolf Lake” was scheduled to premiere tonight at 10 on CBS. The network has rated it TV-14-SV (may be unsuitable for children younger than 14, with special advisories for sex and violence). Because of unfolding national events, CBS’ programming plans for the night were in flux at press time on Tuesday.