Wow Zing. I had no idea that you took up my request and put this in for discussion. Cheers.

Well to sum it up I quite enjoyed this film. It is based on a French myth of an events that took place during the reign of King Louis XV(set in medieval times). The English subtitles didn't distract from the viewing or pacing of the film as much as I had thought.

There several layers (splices of several genres if I dare say) of the storyline that are gradually revealed which leads up to a somewhat unexpected ending. It is a spectacle induced mess of a film in restrospect, but that also works to its anvantage. The action draws you in and holds you in suspense because everyone mainly desires to know what the dreadful 'Beast of Gevaudan' is and who the people behind it really are. Though most of you can probably guess before the end of the tale. Is it an oversized wolf as many believe, is it monster, or is it the Devil himself as fanatics claim? No one really knows in their suspended fear, a fear that paralyzed all of France for almost two years. Tie that in with aristocratic treachery, religious manipulations, prejudices of the times, and a beautiful but complicated prostitue Sylvia (Monica Bellucci..who looks divine in this btw) and you've got one wallop of a movie.

I identified the most with Mani (an Apache Indian that came over from New France, modern day French Canada) and is a blood brother to french nobleman Gregoire de Fronsac, both of whom met and probably fought each other in the Seeven Years War between the French and the Apache Indians in the New World. Mani is the silent but effective type that speaks through actions. He is close to nature and to its living things. We can see an example of this through his unspoken alliance with the wolves that roam the forest where the beast is believed to reside as well. His skills really come to play in the final hour where he hones ancient Shaman techniques during their final attempt at a hunt for the beast. The ending is a bit of a surprise but one I could except from this well crafted film. Just goes to show the The Church has their hands in many areas one would not expect.


Final thoughts: A

Am I the only soul who has seen this film here?

Nope. I don't really remember it because I saw it too long ago. I do remember my rating though ... boring! I'm sure if I watched ita again I'd like it though, so take my rating with a grain of salt.

4/10 (D+)

I rented it when it first came out and I really liked it I found it sad in parts and I remember my brother hating it. Its on my list of movies I would like to own cause I love how the film was shot.

{My original review from February 2002: }


Le Pacte Des Loups is pretty trashy, but also lots of fun with it's strong combo of a French Knight and an Iroquois crimefighting duo, with kung fu and horror movie stuff thrown in to boot. Too long at two and a half hours, but I would still recommend it to fans of any of the aforementioned genres not averse to foreign films. (Of special note was the sound - - I don't think I've ever seen a movie where the sound played such a big part and was so well done!)

4 out of 5.

A bizarre, senseless mishmash of many different genres. That it remains crudely watchable is something I cannot explain.

Let's just chalk it up to very high production values.