Monster Movie of the Week: Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF if you read this before seeing the movie it may impair your enjoyment of the film.



Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

Director: Christophe Gans
Genre: Period/Martial Arts/Monster-on-the-loose


THE MOVIE

The 2001 French movie, Brotherhood of the Wolf is a genre bending mix of period intrigue, martial arts and horror. It is actually based on a real-life historical cryptid, The Beast of Gevaudan which supposedly terrorized the French countryside in the 18th Century. In the movie, a pair of investigators are sent from Paris. One is a famous naturalist, the other is an American Indian. Inexplicably, both know all kinds of martial arts.


There are lots of twists along the way and the monster is fairly secondary to the overall story which involves a religious cult. Despite its title and very familiar set up, this is not the werewolf movie which you might be expecting. Brotherhood of the Wolf is very good at turning genre conventions on their heads and taking sharp turns every time you think you have it pegged down. The monster and its nature are much more bizarre than you would think. If you are the kind of viewer who needs to have your movies all figured out while you are watching them or, if you like your genres neat and self-contained, this may bother you.


THE MONSTER/EFFECTS

The Beast is a unique and interesting movie monster and his true nature keeps you guessing throughout the movie. It is strongly suggested that he is a lion that was brought back from Africa and trained by the film's villain to terrorize the countryside and empower the church which is suffering from waning influence in this Age of Enlightenment. The Beast is outfitted with a kind of armored suit that seems to be permanently attached to its body. His claws and teeth have been augmented with blades and the creature is barely recognizable for what it actually is.

The Beast is a great monster because he is also very tragic. He was animal that was taken out of his environment and warped by human cruelty and bound to a painful armor. Like many great monsters from literature and film it is ultimately a pathetic creature that lives a tortured existence. In a genuinely sad moment, he is shown a small measure of kindness before he is put down.


MOST MEMORABLE SEQUENCE:

Mark Dacascos' Indian forest ninja rampage.

HOME VIDEO:

Several versions on DVD. Avoid the Director's Cut, the movie is already a bit too long as it is and the DC doesn't warrant the extra length.

Not yet on BluRay.

SEE ALSO:

There is really nothing else like this movie but you can try Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999) which has a similar set up and and is set in a similar time period.

THE TRAILER: