Review of film: "RED RIDING HOOD"

2011, 03-08:

Review of film:  “RED RIDING HOOD”

         From “TWILIGHT” to MOONLIGHT…  What Big NERVE You Have!

This movie was directed by CATHERINE HARDWICKE who directed the first two “TWILIGHT” movies…  Thus, you shouldn’t be “shocked” that it very “imaginatively” involves a WEREWOLF…

…  “RED RIDING HOOD” is really named Valerie (AMANDA SEYFRIED).  I hope you’re “sitting down” & not too “stunned”, but, it’s Medieval times & she’s fallen for a “brooding outsider” named Peter (SHILOH FERNANDEZ) whom she’s known for like 10 years...  He’s an orphan, & a “wood-cutter” during the day (possibly because it’s tough for him “sawing logs” at nite?) …

…  Anyway, her parents (naturally) want her to wed a “promising” young blacksmith named Peter (MAX IRONS).  Since her folks want one thing, Amanda wants the OPPOSITE, & plans to run away with Shiloh (who has the same profession as her father, Cesaire, played by BILLY BURKE)… 

…  But their plans are upset by the fact that her older sister Lucy is suddenly killed by a WEREWOLF…  (Don’t you just HATE when “common” things like that crop up & put a “dent” in things!...)

…  Given the superstitious times, people have been offering a monthly “SACRIFICE” of some animal to the Werewolf.  But, seemingly it was too “low grade” for W-W, & it’s “angry” at the townfolks.  That’s why, under a “blood red moon”, it’s instead taken a HUMAN sacrifice (namely, the afore-mentioned sister), for the 1^st time in “20 years”…

…  What would you do if you were the folks there?  Well, maybe unlike you, they want “REVENGE” for losing Sis.  Thus, they seek out a “famed Werewolf HUNTER” (I guess from a Medieval version of “Craig’s List”)…  The Hunter is named Father Solomon (GARY OLDMAN), who may have taken the job because things were a bit “SLOW” for Church folks at the time… 

…  Actually, the town’s young “live-in” Father Auguste (LUKAS HAAS) has recommended that people WAIT for the expected arrival of Gary…  But, they prefer going seeking the werewolf on their OWN, led by Max’s dad…  

…  Well, things go very badly for Max’s dad during the “hunt”…  Finally, GARY arrives, & he’s almost more of a “POLITICIAN” than just a holy man, arriving with an “entourage” of Black armed guards, a fancy coach (with his motherless children), & a strange animal-shaped “torture” device…

…  Some of the dialogue & the actions are so SILLY (such as how Lukas literally applauds during the arrival of Father Gary), that the screening audience literally broke out LAUGHING at such things (which were not meant to be funny)…

…  Anyway, when Gary arrives, instead of having an anti-werewolf “-‘Wolf’ TRAP” or some easy-to-use “potion” or the like, he instead comes up with a supposition:  that the W-Wolf may actually be taking a HUMAN form among them during the day!...

…  Now, is that any way to “reassure” the Villagers?!...  Even less comforting is, at each moon rise, the Werewolf is seemingly seeking a NEW “un-approved” sacrifice…  And, you thought things were “tough” TODAY!...

…  In any case, after revealing a secret to Amanda, her mother Suzette (VIRGINIA MADSEN) tries to cause Shiloh to BREAK-UP with her daughter…  Maybe it runs in the “family”, but Amanda’s grandmother (JULIE CHRISTIE) also works to involve herself in Amanda’s affairs, & acts very “STRANGELY” (almost as if SHE might be a “Wolf-in-RELATIVE’s-Clothing”?!…

...  Speaking of clothing, Julie gives Amanda the very “subtle” red-colored “HOODIE” that Amanda starts wearing regularly…  At one point, the Werewolf RETURNS to attack the town, & seems to be able to TALK to Amanda, which makes her best friend Roxanne (SHAUNA KAIN) more than a little “FREAKED-OUT”…

…  Gary & his guard Captain (ADRIAN HOLMES) keep threatening the townfolks, & makes them afraid of each OTHER as he tries to find the “real” werewolf with NO regard for (other) peoples’ lives or limbs…

…  What will happen if Max learns of Amanda’s interest in Shiloh?...  Could Max or Shiloh (-- who at times speaks words similar to the Werewolf’s --) actually BE the W-W?...  What is JULIE’s overall role     in the story?... 

…  Will some supposed “silver” object or the Church grounds be able to “STOP” the Werewolf?...  To whom will Red Riding Hood say the famous “What big TEETH you have!” line?...  Just who IS the Werewolf, & what will HAPPEN between that creature & Amanda (& the others)?...

…  Now, some of you may be a bit “insulted” that I don’t treat this whole effort with more “RESPECT” & “seriousness”…  Well, sorry, but I find the “Vampire / Werewolf ” genres to be fairly ABSURD overall, so I find it difficult to assign special “gravity” to the subject…

…  The main “plus” this movie has “going” for it is, as a “HORROR” film, it’s NOT really a “slasher” flick (in that the bloodiness is kept sort of “subdued”)…  The “Special Effects” are “OK” (tho nothing “exceptional”)…

…  But, outside of Gary Oldman, the characters are fairly “WEAKLY” written, & the actors (especially the younger ones) seldom are able to rise “above” that level of inadequacy;  they do what they “can” with the story, but it’s not “much” (& thus no great “believability” abounds in the area)…

…  The photography is fairly good at times, but the “horror” ISN’T very “scary”;  if you’re into “Fairy Tale FLUFF”, you’ll probably find the film “OK”…  Me, I can only rate it at like 6.5 of 10 stars…

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