‘Hair of the Bear’ Confronts Anxiety in the Canadian Wilderness

Written and directed by James McLellan and Alexandre Trudeau, Hair of the Bear stars Malia Baker as Tori, a teenager grappling with anxiety who finds herself in a remote wilderness setting. The film, a debut narrative feature for both directors, premiered at the Rendez-Vous French Film Festival and is slated for release in select theaters on March 6, 2026.

A Teen’s Journey into the Wild

Tori, a 16-year-aged struggling with debilitating anxiety and refusing to attend school, is sent by her mother to stay with her grandfather, Benoit (Roy Dupuis), in a remote cabin [1]. The film explores the challenges Tori faces as she adjusts to a life focused on survival skills, a stark contrast to her previous social media-centered existence [2].

From Family Drama to Thriller

Initially, the film unfolds as an intimate family drama, examining the relationship between Tori and her grandfather. However, the narrative shifts when they encounter two men (Robert Naylor and Jonathan Lawrence) who introduce an element of danger and force Tori to confront her will to live [3]. The story then evolves into a cat-and-mouse game, testing Tori’s newfound survival skills.

Filmmakers and Cast

Hair of the Bear marks the narrative feature debut for co-directors Alexandre Trudeau and James McLellan, who first met while serving as officers in the Canadian Armed Forces [3]. Malia Baker, known for her roles in The Baby-Sitters Club and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, both executive produces and stars as Tori [2]. Roy Dupuis plays Tori’s grandfather, Benoit. The film is produced by Julijette and Same Adventure Productions in association with levelFILM [4].

A Psychological Thriller in a Lethal Landscape

Set in the remote Canadian wilderness, approximately 75 minutes northeast of Winnipeg, the film explores themes of anxiety, mortality, and the unforgiving nature of the land [3]. While differing in scale from other wilderness survival films like The Revenant or 127 Hours, Hair of the Bear aims to blend emotional depth with elements of genre thrills.