Plot
The teen Jacob, who suffers from clinical lycanthropy believing he is a wolf, is committed to a mental asylum following an attack on his brother. There he meets and befriends the other patients, who also believe themselves to be animals, including Rufus, who believes he is a German Shepherd. Others introduce themselves, one as a parrot, another as a squirrel, then a horse, a duck and a spider.
As Rufus also identifies as canine, he insists he and Jacob are kindred spirits, as they are meant to be pack animals. He explains they must follow the rules and obey the asylum's employees.
They are inundated with images and videos of correct human behavior. Then outside, put on leashes, Jacob and Rufus watch as Jeremy the squirrel is humiliated by Dr. Mann, the Zookeeper, who forces him to try to climb a tree, but rips off a fingernail in the process.
Left alone with the vicious, sociopathic and mentally unstable head of the asylum the Zookeeper, Jacob is told to attack him, as he had done on the outside to someone, resulting in being committed here. Although he does get on his hands and knees as ordered, he resists doing so. As they are meant to write in journals, Dr. Mann has Jacob's read out loud to shame and convince him he is human.
That evening, Jacob forms a close bond with Cecile, an enigmatic patient/seemingly foster child of Dr. Angeli nicknamed "Wildcat", and together they roam the hallways at night. After a local attacks the compound, throwing a dead dog through a window and calling them freaks, the two gently bury the carcass.
After witnessing the brutal methods of treatment performed by the Zookeeper, such as scaring the 'parrot' into admitting she is human by almost pushing her out a high window to prove she can fly, Jacob becomes frustrated. When he attacks an orderly for antagonising the 'duck', it results in a warning.
The Zookeeper tries to scare Jacob into compliance, first by introducing him to a live wolf so he can recognise their differences, then to a 'lion' man. He had been subjected to a survival cannibalism situation, resulting in his inability to reintegrate into society, so he is caged here permanently.
Caught on the grounds at night by the Zookeeper, Jacob attacks him. So, he is caged and gagged. Cecile sneaks into the room where he is caged one night and makes love to him. However, they are caught by Dr Angeli so Jacob is punished with a cattle prod, the other patients hear, so lash out at the Zookeeper.
Disgusted by Zookeeper and Angeli, Cecile frees Jacob from his cage, allowing him to escape. She almost runs away with him, then tries to convince him to stay. Not wanting to be controlled any longer, Jacob runs into the forest where he can live in freedom as a wolf.
