BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF (2001)

MORGAN'S RATING

Based on a true story, two men are sent by the King of France not long before the French Revolution to the countryside of Gevaudan to investigate the mysterious beast that is hunting down and killing women and children by the score. The two men - a court biologist named Gregorie de Fronsac and his American Indian blood brother Mani - find themselves caught up in all kinds of intrigue while in that area of the kingdom and, of course, try to track down the seldom glimpsed beast.

Samuel Le Bihan (Gregorie de Fronsac), Vincent Cassel (Jean-Francois de Morangias), Emilie Dequenne (Marianne de Morangias), Monica Bellucci (Sylvia), Jeremie Renier (Thomas d'Apcher), Mark Dacascos (Mani), Jean Yanne (Le Comte de Morangias), Jean-Francois Stevenin (Henri Sardis), Jacques Perrin (Thomas d'Apcher, old), Johan Leysen (Beauterne), Bernard Farcy (Laffont), Edith Scob (Mme De Morangias), Hans Meyer (Marquis d'Apcher), Virginie Darmon (La Bavarde), Philippe Nahon (Jean Chastel), Eric Prat (Capitaine Duhamel), Jean-Loup Wolff (Duc de Moncan), Bernard Fresson (Mercier), Christian Marc (Old Thomas' Servany), Karin Kristrom (Bergere du Rocher), Vincent Cespedes (Soldier), Jean-Paul Farre (Pere Georges), Pierre Lavit (Jacques), Michel Puterflam (Bishop de Mende), Nicolas Vaude (Maxime Des Forets), Max Delor, Christian Adam (Old Noblemen), Jean-Pierre Jackson (Nobleman at dinner), Nicky Naude (La Felure), Daniel Herroin (Blondin), Gaelle Cohen (La Loutre), Virginie Arnaud (La Pintade), Charles Maquingnon (Valet Bordel), Franckie Pain (La Tessier).

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Christophe Gans (Crying Freeman). WRITERS: Stephane Cabel and Christophe Gans. PRODUCERS: Richard Grandpierre and Samuel Hadida. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Joseph LoDuca. DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures.

QUOTES

Mani: All women have the same color when the candle is out.

Henri: So tell me sire, do they speak of the beast in Paris? Gregorie De Fronsac: Speak of it? They're already singing songs about it. Marianne: Instead of singing songs, they should be saying prayers.

FACTS

Jean-Francois de Morangias: Congratulations. If I had both my hands, I'd applaud you.

RELEASE DATE: January 11th, 2002 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: October 1st, 2002 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $475,181 (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $10.7 million (USA) BUDGET: $29 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: February 2000 -- ??? - De Fronsac travels on a ship aptly named "Frere loup", French for "Brother wolf". - Apparantly in the belief that no one outside France has any sense of history, the translators writing subtitles omitted a historical reference in old d'Apcher's memoir. The subtitles read, "the Revolution has become the Terror" (this may have been changed for some DVD versions).

Jean-Francois de Morangias: You are too late. The beast is immortal. Gregorie De Fronsac: IT may be immortal, but YOU aren't!

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"The effects and fight scenes are first-rate." -- John Anderson, Newsday

"It's easily the most disarming and inventive movie made for genre geeks in years." -- Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

"Daring in its approach and successful in its result -- assuming the result is to provide pure entertainment to the viewer." -- James Berardinelli, Reel Views