A Wolf at the Door

"It finds its strength in painting a portrait of Brazilian heterosexual gender relations as an always-volatile symbiosis between feminine hysteria and ruthless machismo."

"The film does not take audiences on an easy ride, and it's an utterly compelling and indelible drama."

"Coimbra's overambitious use of a complex narrative structure can feel clunky, and worst of all, the kid at the center is practically forgotten in the assemblage of flashbacks, significantly diminishing the emotional pull."

"Potent sexual attraction can be a wonderful thing, but it can also bring out the absolute worst in the people involved, as the bleak, disturbing Latin American noir "A Wolf at the Door" convincingly demonstrates."

"On a visceral level, it is a knife to the gut."

"Surprisingly extracting humor out of a incredibly serious and dramatic situation, the film is especially benefited by the flawless performances of Leal, Cortaz and Nascimento."

"Though a strong director of actors, Coimbra is significantly less assured as a visual stylist."

"In his first film Coimbra already appears to be a master of the cinematic tightrope walk, weaving flashbacks and detective work in an energetic and pleasingly sleazy manner (this is, after all, a modern noir)."