“Twilight” filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke directs yet another werewolf movie: a dark tale from the archives of the Brothers Grimm, namely, “Little Red Riding Hood.” This rendering is not kiddie fare but an adulterated fairy tale that’s a fear-y story grim as can be. The European cautionary folk narrative is set in a village living in terror of a monstrous werewolf (courtesy of CGI). It’s not an ordinary wolf of the original storyline victimizing them; this thing has killed the titular heroine’s sister, and werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (a hammy Gary Oldman) arrives to slay the beast. The damsel-in-distress heroine is pretty Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) in love with Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), a poor woodcutter villager. Her needy parents Cesaire (Billy Burke) and Suzette (Virginia Madsen) have arranged for her to marry wealthy Henry (Max Irons), the village blacksmith. A third suitor is the preposterously horrifying werewolf: the creature communicates its intentions to Valerie, and when the village elders discover her contact with the savage animal, she’s condemned a witch.
All “Hood” has going for it in director Hardwicke’s production are period costumes and set designs. Underused Julie Christie is a hoot playing the integral “grandmother,” and in a pivotal scene the famous words: “grandmother, what big eyes you have, and what large ears you have, and what large teeth you have,” with the ominous retort: “better to eat you with, my dear,” all come across as ludicrous. When the identity of the villager/werewolf in human form is revealed, it’s time to close the book.
Image Source: Daemons Movies
