Big
Bad Wolves
(2013/Magnolia/MagNet Blu-ray)
Picture:
A Sound: A Extras: B- Film: B
Big
Bad Wolves
is a 2013 Israeli thriller that was hailed by the God of Movies
himself, Quentin Tarantino, as the Best
Film of the Year,
which was enough to get me interested. While it is a mesmerizing and
entertaining cat and mouse guessing game from frame one it is
certainly flawed, primarily in its last frames. The film is grounded
in realism and deals with a Father trying to cope with the grisly
rape and murder of his young daughter by the hands of a creepy
Religious Studies Teacher who is about as evil as the Devil himself.
A vigilante Police Detective named Micki (Lior Ashkenazi) who is
forced to operate outside the boundaries of the law to seek truth is
our protagonist who will stop at nothing to find the killer behind
bars after a Police Blunder (a leaked Youtube clip of Cops furiously
beating the rapist) costs him his job. The film is beautifully shot
and composed and features breathtakingly twisted sequences that pit
the audience in the uncomfortable mind of a killer.
The
scary thing about this film is that it could happen in any
neighborhood. The suspected killer Dror (Rotem Keinan) is a
normal-looking man to whom you would never suspect to be responsible
for crimes of this nature. He has a daughter and uses that as a
alibi to cover his dark secrets. Even after a relentless series of
beatings and torture, the Killer never confesses to a single thing
and is intelligent enough to shake the main characters to their very
core, making them question their moral and practical beliefs.
After
the apprehension and initial beating of Dror by a Police Team in an
attempt to discover the location of a kidnapped girl, an unknown
caller tells them of the location of the girl's headless body in a
field. The Girl's Father Gidi (Tzahi Grad), himself a retired
military man, also suspects Dror of his involvement and plans to
kidnap him in an attempt to avenge the death of his daughter. Though
paths cross when Micki apprehends Dror in an exhilarating chase
sequence that leads to Gidi getting the upper hand on both Dror and
Micki as he kidnaps and keeps them both in his newly purchased and
isolated cabin that is off the maps. Micki and Gidi for a moment
team up in an attempt to beat and torture Dror until he tells them
the location of the murdered girl's head. Things get more complex
when Micki is fooled by the tortured Dror. and Gidi's Father pays
them an unexpected visit during the beatings.
The
final act forces us to wonder who is the real villain? The serial
rapist or the Father who will stop at nothing to get the answers that
he so desires? We also discover that Micki's own daughter has gone
missing during ballet practice which prompts him more than ever to
find out the truth behind Dror. The ending, which I won't spoil, is
as thought provoking as it is sad. This is not a happy story but a
toe-nail ripping, finger smashing romp that keeps you guessing and
doubting yourself at every turn. If you are a fan of films like
2013's Prisoners
then you should definitely give this film a watch.
The
1080p digital high definition transfer on the disc with a 2.40:1
aspect ratio is crisp and clear with beautifully dark and saturating
tones that enforce the intensity of the subject matter. From the
contrasting stone walls of Gidi's underground torture room to the
pastel colors of the playground where Dror ponders his next move are
expertly executed. Backed up by a glorious DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
5.1 mix in Hebrew and English. Subtitles are also available on the
disc in English SDH, English, Spanish, and French.
Extras
include Making
of Big Bad Wolves,
AXS
TV: A Look at Big Bad Wolves,
and the Theatrical Trailer. I would have liked a commentary track or
maybe some deleted scenes but overall Magnet has done a fantastic job
with this release. Recommended.
-
James Lockhart
www.vimeo.com/jamielockhart
