Film Review - Brotherhood of the Wolf

Christophe Gans' film Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf) is a mixed bag. The beginning is very good. A bunch of cold, wet, muddy French people are being terrorized by an un-seen monster. No, it's not Germany, it's a werewolf... at least that's what everyone who hasn't seen it thinks. (Everyone who has seen it is dead.)

This is a semi-classical horror movie. The monster prowls around in the dark most of the time, eating French people and scaring the audience. The best thing is, you never see the monster until the second act. When the beast is finally seen it looks just like what it is, and poor-quality computer generated creature.

The second act of this movie is where it all goes to hell. Turns out there's two conspiracies. One is trying to cover up the monster by creating a genuine fake, stuffed monster that is put in a museum. The other conspiracy are a group of right-wing Christians (are you listening, Falwell?) who are using the monster to get people to go to church. These people are worst than the nuts who come to my door.

Not a great movie. Most critics seemed to like it. But then some people think any movie whose dialogue is in French must be high art. I think this would have been much better is Hammer had made it in the 1950's. Wait a minute... they probably did!

Dust Bag Full

Film Facts

Directed by Christophe Gans

Released in 2001

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewed by Mongo