Big Bad Wolves
Director: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado
Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad
Release Date: In Theatres (Limited), on Demand and on iTunes January 17th, 2014
A Review By: Kevin Lovell
Film Rating: 9.5/10
Plot Summary:
A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings – a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder.
‘Big Bad Wolves’ tells the story of three men whose lives come crashing together through a bloody chain of events. When a number of young girls are brutally tortured and murdered, a police detective investigating the
case steps outside the boundaries of the law and is unknowingly caught on camera brutally beating a suspect in order to obtain information. The detective is dismissed from the force as a result of his unruly actions, and therefore decides to take matters into his own hands in order to solve the case and stop this madman by whatever means necessary. Unbeknownst to the detective, the father of the killers latest victim has his own plans for the suspect as well, whom he believes to be responsible for his daughter’s death. He is determined to get information on the remainder of his daughter’s remains, even if that means inflicting cruelties on the suspect. When both go after the suspect in question, one even leads to another and they end up at the father’s house where the detective is given the option to either aid this man in his torturing of the suspect or be killed himself. Now these two will work together to discover the truth and find out if this man truly is the killer they believe him to be, or if they are unnecessarily torturing an innocent man.
This is one of those films that manage to force its way inside your head, take you along for a ride, and subsequently leave you to dwell on what has occurred for quite some time afterward. It is powerful, gritty and bloody at times, then downright hilarious at others. ‘Big Bad Wolves’ is one of those rare examples of cinema that can cause you to feel downright sick and uncomfortable one moment, and have you unexpectedly bursting into laughter the next. While it is a very uncommon feeling, it really plays out into a very unique kind of film experience, and one rarely attempted, let alone accomplished successfully. I personally didn’t find it to be so much of a dark comedy as a suspense thriller and mystery heavily wrapped in uniquely fitting dark humor, but regardless of how you look at it, this is a downright incredible film and one that leave itself imprinted in your thoughts for some time to come after you finish viewing it.
OVERALL: ‘Big Bad Wolves’ is an amazing foreign film that is powerful, unforgettable and isn’t afraid to rattle your nerves one moment, and then laugh at you and leave you laughing in return in the blink of an eye, and frequently when you least expect it. From the opening sequence of the movie, in which the film’s title is cleverly announced, I had a smile on my face and knew that this was really going to be something special, and it most certainly was. For those who can handle it, and especially for true film aficionado’s out there, I would highly recommend making ‘Big Bad Wolves’ a priority on your to see list. While it is only getting a limited theatrical release (which is common distribution practice for a Magnet release) it will conveniently also be available to rent on Demand and on iTunes the same day that it hits theatres, so one way or another it should be easy enough to check out for those who are anxiously anticipating the US release of this phenomenal film.
Film Rating: 9.5/10
‘Big Bad Wolves’ will arrive In Theatres, on Demand and on iTunes Friday, January 17th 2014 from Magnet Releasing.