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Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

I like to think of Brotherhood of the Wolf as one of those Batman action figures I used to get as a kid. Take away the crazy-colored shield that doubles up as a magnifying glass, the rocket boots, and unnecessary gimmick and you've got a much better, simpler, leaner product. Le pacte des loups a.k.a. Brotherhood of the Wolf features an intriguing mystery. There are elements of horror, the period-piece setting is lavish, the characters draw you in. Then, out of nowhere, a bunch of action scenes are thrown in and the plot goes completely loopy. It remains entertaining but makes you wonder what they were thinking.

In 1766 France, in the province of Gévaudan, the locals are being terrorized by an animal unlike anything they’ve ever seen. King Louis XV sends Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) and his brother in arms Mani (Mark Dacascos), a Mohawk Indian, to investigate. Their search leads Grégoire to believes the beast is somewhere between an animal and the monster the people believe in.

There’s a lot of good stuff going on here. The mystery for instance. Is this creature a legitimate monster, a wild animal, something else? Your hypothesis will change with each clue. While Mani and Grégoire aren't examining the torn bodies and footprints, a lot is happening. Politics and twisting allegiances make you wonder. Different people are using these horrifying events to their advantage, which in turn forces all of these other pieces to muddle up the mystery. Grégoire and Mani are stepping in the middle of it and disrupting this complex machine. There are many subplots including the brotherhood between Grégoire and Mani, the love plot between our hero and the attractive Marianne (Émilie Dequenne), and the rivalry between the different hunters sent to track down the beast.

When you think you've got this movie figured out... it brings in elements of horror. The gore, the slow reveals of the beast, it's well done. The period piece setting adds a lot of suspense and intrigue. People acted differently in the 18th century. Seeing some of the outdated beliefs clash with some of the more contemporary values of the investigation keeps you wondering. There’s a natural spookiness to stories dominated by superstitions. The isolation of the province adds atmosphere.

There's enough good here to recommend the film but a lot of flaws pop out during the last quarter.  It’s as if the director wanted to make a cool martial arts action movie, and a period piece horror thriller at the same time. When you mix two opposites, you don't always get Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Scenes where dozens of mooks fight with kung-fu moves, whip-like swords, razor hand fans, and “final boss” battles don’t belong anywhere near this film, but they’re included... for some reason! At 152 minutes, this picture turns into a bit of a mess at the end without sinking completely.

I like Brotherhood of the Wolf. The special effects are pretty good. Each clue compels you to inch closer. The characters are interesting. It approaches the “countryside monster” story creatively. I just wish we could've skipped the martial arts. The stunts and choreography are fun but they belong in a different realm altogether. (Original French version on DVD, March 4, 2015)

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