ZEE'S REVIEWS

23rd February 2009
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

Brotherhood of the Wolf is, surprisingly enough, based on a true story  - the legend of the Beast of Gevaudon. In eighteenth century France, this mysterious beast terrorised the countryside for years, killing 122 people during its maraudings.

This movie is a fictionalised account of those events. It follows the naturalist Sir Gregoire de Fronsac and his Mohawk Iroquois companion Mani, who have been sent by the king to investigate. They are drawn into the intrigues of the local court and ultimately uncover more than they bargained for.

The lavish period detail and loving cinematography make this movie a visual feast. However, the pacing is distractingly stop start, with the hunt for the beast slowed by digressions such as Fronsac's courtship of noblewoman Marianne de Morangias. The action sequences themselves are intense and kinetic, but full of completely anachronistic martial arts sequences, with eighteenth century French nobles engaging in wirework acrobatics. These are actually quite entertaining to watch, so long as you are prepared to suspend your disbelief; less forgivable are the various cliches and bizarre revelations the story unveils. However, the solution to the mystery of the beast is unexpected and effective.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is a mixed bag of a movie, and may have been  more enjoyable had it been shorter and more focused. However, it is an intriguing examination of a legend that well deserves more attention.