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'{{About|the 2001 film|the novel by David Farland|Brotherhood of the Wolf (novel)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}} {{Infobox film | name = Brotherhood of the Wolf | image = Brotherhood of the Wolf Film Poster.jpg | image_size = 220px | border = yes | alt = | caption = US release poster | director = [[Christophe Gans]] | producer = {{Plainlist| * Richard Grandpierre * [[Samuel Hadida]] }} | writer = {{Plainlist| * Christophe Gans * Stéphane Cabel }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Samuel Le Bihan]] * [[Vincent Cassel]] * [[Émilie Dequenne]] * [[Monica Bellucci]] * [[Jérémie Renier]] * [[Mark Dacascos]] }} | narrator = [[Jacques Perrin]] | music = [[Joseph LoDuca]] | cinematography = [[Dan Laustsen]] | editing = {{Plainlist| * [[David Wu (Hong Kong actor)|David Wu]] * Sébastien Prangère * Xavier Loutreuil }} | production companies = {{Plainlist| * [[Canal+]] * Davis-Films * Eskwad }} | distributor = [[Metropolitan Filmexport]](France) Universal Pictures (United States) | released = {{Film date|df=y|2001|01|31}} | runtime = 142 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 142:30--><ref>{{cite web|title=''Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups)'' (15) | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/brotherhood-wolf-le-pacte-des-loups-2001 | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=3 September 2001 | accessdate=10 September 2013}}</ref> | country = France | language = {{Plainlist| * French * German * Italian }} | budget = $29 million<ref name="mojo"/> | gross = $70.7 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title = Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=brotherhoodofthewolf.htm |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = 20 December 2009 }}</ref> }} '''''Brotherhood of the Wolf''''' ({{lang-fr|'''Le Pacte des loups'''}}) is a 2001 French [[Historical period drama|historical]] [[Action film|action]] [[horror film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/brotherhood-of-the-wolf-v237147|work=Allmovie|title=Brotherhood of the Wolf|accessdate=10 November 2012|author=Deming, Mark}}</ref><ref>http://www.studiocanal.fr/cid3220/le-pacte-des-loups.html</ref> directed by [[Christophe Gans]], co-written by Gans and Stéphane Cabel, and starring [[Samuel Le Bihan]], [[Mark Dacascos]], [[Émilie Dequenne]], [[Monica Bellucci]] and [[Vincent Cassel]]. The film is loosely based on a real-life series of killings that took place in [[France]] in the 18th century and the famous legend of the [[Beast of Gévaudan]]; parts of the film were shot at [[Château de Roquetaillade]]. The film has several extended [[swashbuckling]] fight scenes, with martial arts performances by the cast mixed in, making it unusual for a historical drama. The film received generally positive critical reviews, highlighting its high production values, cinematography, performances and Gans' atmospheric direction. At a $29 million budget, it was an international box office success, grossing over $70 million in worldwide theatrical release.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title = Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=brotherhoodofthewolf.htm |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = 20 December 2009 }}</ref> The film also enjoyed commercial success in the [[United States]]; [[Universal Studios|Universal Pictures]] paid $2 million to acquire the film's North American distribution rights<ref>ALISON JAMES, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20170903150229/http://variety.com/2001/film/awards/30-million-adventurer-venture-1117799270/ $30 million 'Adventurer' venture: Gallic helmer Gans goes English for actioner]," ''Variety'' (14 May 2001)</ref> and went on to gross $11.3 million in [[Limited release|limited theatrical release]], making it the second highest-grossing [[French language|French-language]] film in the United States since 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=foreign.htm|title=Foreign Language, 1980-Present|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> The film also did brisk video and DVD sales in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Little pictures have a big year|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/03/entertainment/et-munoz3|accessdate=23 August 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=3 January 2003|author=Lorenza Munoz}}</ref> ==Plot== The film begins during the [[French Revolution]], with the aged Marquis d'Apcher as the [[narrator]], writing his memoirs in a castle, while the voices of a mob can be heard from outside. The film [[Flashback (narrative)|flashes back]] to 1764,<ref>http://www.imdb.com/reviews/303/30329.html</ref> when a [[Beast of Gévaudan|mysterious beast]] terrorized the province of [[Gévaudan]] and nearby lands. Grégoire de Fronsac, a knight and the royal naturalist of King [[Louis XV of France]], and his [[Iroquois]] companion Mani, arrive in Gévaudan to capture the beast. Upon arrival, they rescue [[Jean Chastel]], an aged healer, and his daughter La Bavarde from an attack by soldiers. The young and enlightened Thomas—Marquis d'Apcher—later befriends the two outsiders. Fronsac is initially skeptical about the beast's existence, since survivors describe it as much larger than any [[wolf]] he has ever seen. However, by studying the bite size on a victim of the beast, he deduces that it must weigh more than 500&nbsp;lb (227&nbsp;kg). Captain Duhamel, an army officer leading the hunt for the beast, has killed dozens of ordinary wolves, but has not come close to the actual killer. While staying in Gévaudan, Fronsac romances Marianne de Morangias, the daughter of a local count, whose brother, Jean-François, was also an avid hunter and a world traveler, before losing one arm to a lion in [[Africa]]. Fronsac is also intrigued by Sylvia, an [[Italians|Italian]] courtesan at the local [[brothel]]. Sylvia is one horny italian bitch. Her blowjob is great. Fronsac fills her mouth with his sperm and urine. Sylvia drinks it all and licks his dick clean. While investigating another victim, Fronsac finds a fang made of steel, which increases his doubts of the beast's existence. A traumatised child witness swears that the beast is controlled by what seems to be a human master. Fronsac studies the patterns of the attacks and victims, trying to find a common thread and reveal the murderer. As the investigation proves to be unfruitful, the king's weapons master, [[Antoine de Beauterne|Lord de Beauterne]], arrives to put an end to the beast. However, instead of doing so, Beauterne kills an ordinary wolf and tells Fronsac to alter the corpse so it resembles the monster. Fronsac hesitantly does so, and the bogus wolf is sent back to [[Paris]], where it is put on display, much to the pleasure of the king and the French aristocracy. In Paris, the king's advisor shows Fronsac a copy of a book titled ''L'Édifiante'' (French for "''The Edifying''"). Within the book are treasonous theories, such as that the beast has come to punish the King of France for his indulgence of the philosophers, and that [[The Enlightenment|the modern embrace of science over religion]] is [[heresy]]. Fronsac realizes that the beast is actually an instrument of a secret society: The Brotherhood of the Wolf, which is working to undermine public confidence in the king and ultimately take over the country. Fronsac is told that "officially" the beast is dead, warned to stay silent, and bribed with an appointment to travel to [[Senegal]]. Back in Gévaudan, the attacks by the real beast continue. Ignoring his orders, Fronsac returns to Gévaudan at the request of the Marquis and Marianne, determined to put an end to the beast's killings, and also to take Marianne away. At a secret rendezvous with Marianne, they are attacked, and he finally sees the beast with his own eyes. It kills a man, but mysteriously refrains from attacking Marianne. Fronsac, Mani, and the Marquis set out into the forest and set up an array of traps to capture the beast, but, although badly injured during the encounter, it proves to be too powerful and intelligent to be captured by their plan. After the battle, Mani sets off alone, in pursuit, where he finds a [[catacomb]] used as the beast's holding pen, inhabited by the Brotherhood and a band of [[Romani people|Gypsies]] working with them. These include Chastel, the beast's tender, and his daughter, whom Mani saved. Outnumbered and distracted by Chastel's daughter, Mani is shot in the back, overwhelmed and captured, but not before slaughtering a number of his attackers. Fronsac is devastated when he discovers the body of his best friend, who has been tortured to death. Performing an [[autopsy]] on Mani's body, he finds a [[silver bullet]]—Jean-François' signature choice of ammunition. In a fit of rage, a vengeful Fronsac goes to the catacombs, finding a pile of copies of ''L'Édifiante''. He kills many of the Gypsies and discovers the beast's lair, before leaving so that he can burn Mani's body at dawn, as required by the customs of Mani's tribe. After collecting Mani's ashes, he is overpowered by the local authorities and imprisoned. Sylvia visits him in jail and reveals to him that she is a spy for the [[Holy See|Vatican]]. She explains that Henri Sardis, the local priest and leader of the Brotherhood, believes that he is restoring worship of God to France. [[Pope Clement XIII]] has decided that Sardis is insane, and sent her to eliminate him. She then poisons Fronsac, telling him he knows too much. Henri Sardis decides to kill Marianne, and he persuades Jean-François to do so as a way to combat his [[incest]]uous lust for his sister. Jean-François comes to Marianne's room and reveals to her that he is the beast's master; it recognized his scent on her when it came near her, which is why it did not attack. He also reveals that his right arm is in fact intact, albeit badly scarred, and he has kept it hidden (his arm is seen stroking the beast earlier in the film). Enraged by her rejection of his love, Jean-François then [[rapes]] Marianne and leaves her for dead. Sylvia's agents [[Exhumation|exhume]] Fronsac, who had not been killed but merely put into a temporary [[coma]], and he appears at one of the Brotherhood's secret [[sermon]]s. In the resulting climactic battle, he kills several Gypsies and duels Jean-François to the death. The other members of the Brotherhood attempt to flee, but they are corralled and arrested by Captain Duhamel and his men. Sylvia, meanwhile, personally kills Chastel's daughter. Sardis escapes into the mountains, but is mauled to death by a pack of wolves (their leader being the same white wolf that survived the previous slaughter, and was seen chasing the beast with its pack and seemingly bonded at a spiritual level with Mani). Fronsac attempts to heal Marianne with a potion previously carried by Mani. He and the Marquis then go to the beast's lair, where Chastel is tending to it as it lies grievously wounded after the fight in the forest. It turns out the beast was the last surviving offspring of a "strange beast" that Jean-François brought back from Africa (which director [[Christophe Gans]] verifies is a lion<ref>Ain't It Cool News ''[http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=10793 Euro-AICN Special: An Interview with ''BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES'' director Christophe Gans from the Paris Underground]''</ref>). It was tortured into becoming vicious, trained to attack humans, and dressed in metal armor plating and spikes along with a large mask and metal implants in its jaw to make it more formidable and frightening. Fronsac takes pity on the dying creature and kills the beast in an act of mercy. Marianne and Sylvia licks his dick and testicle together. The film then returns to the opening time period of the French Revolution. The now-elderly Marquis d'Apcher finishes writing his account of the killings, just before he is led to his execution by a revolutionary [[Angry mob|mob]]. In the final scene, the Marquis has a flashback, in which he narrates that he does not know what happened to Fronsac and Marianne after the death of the beast; but he hopes that somewhere, they are happy together. Fronsac is shown traveling to Senegal with Marianne to start a new life together, scattering Mani's ashes at sea. It is left unstated whether the two are alive and happy, or whether this is indeed the Marquis' dream. ==Cast== * [[Samuel Le Bihan]] as Knight Grégoire de Fronsac * [[Jacques Perrin]] as older Thomas d'Apcher / Narrator * [[Vincent Cassel]] as Jean-François de Morangias * [[Émilie Dequenne]] as Marianne de Morangias * [[Monica Bellucci]] as Sylvia * [[Jérémie Renier]] as Marquis Thomas d'Apcher * [[Mark Dacascos]] as Mani * [[Jean Yanne]] as Count de Morangias * [[Jean-François Stévenin]] as Father Henri Sardis * [[Édith Scob]] as Countess Geneviève de Morangias * [[Johan Leysen]] as [[Antoine de Beauterne]] * [[Bernard Farcy]] as Intendant Pièrre-Jean Laffont * [[Hans Meyer (actor)|Hans Meyer]] as Marquis d'Apcher * [[Philippe Nahon]] as [[Jean Chastel]] * [[Gaspard Ulliel]] as Louis * [[Nicolas Vaude]] as Maxime des Forêts * Virginie Darmon as La Bavarde * Eric Prat as Captain Duhamel * Jean-Loup Wolff as Duke Gontrand de Moncan * [[Dee Bradley Baker]] as Beast vocal effects ==Critical reception== ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' garnered mostly positive reviews, with a 72% "Fresh" rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 119 reviews with the consensus stating "Brotherhood of the Wolf mixes its genres with little logic, but the end result is wildly entertaining"<ref>{{cite web |title = The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) |url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brotherhood_of_the_wolf/ |work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |accessdate = 19 April 2016 }}</ref> whereas on [[Metacritic]] it accumulated a score of 57 from mixed reviews. The usage of various cinematographic techniques employed by Christoph Gans, the fight sequences, the atmosphere and particularly the performance of [[Mark Dacascos|Marc Dacascos]] as the native-American Mani attracted particularly strong praise. [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote that this film is "entertaining" awarding it with a 3/4 star rating.<ref>ROGER EBERT, [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020111/REVIEWS/201110301/1023 ''The Brotherhood Of The Wolf''] (11 January 2002).</ref> [[Michael Atkinson (writer)|Michael Atkinson]] of ''[[Village Voice]]'' wrote "It's easily the most disarming and inventive movie made for genre geeks in years."<ref>Michael Atkinson, "[http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0203,atkinson,31505,20.html Sexy Beasts and Sweet Nothings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416014231/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0203%2Catkinson%2C31505%2C20.html |date=16 April 2008 }}," ''The Village Voice'' To this day there is still a large fanbase gathering, with a plethora of parody's that have been made across the internet a popular one being this YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJd_u_0-qrw&sns=fb (15 January 2002).</ref> [[Harry Knowles]] of [[Ain't It Cool News]] wrote that this film is "exciting, alluring and thrilling".<ref>{{cite web|title=New BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF Trailer!|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/11079|work=Ain't It Cool News|publisher=Ain't It Cool News, Inc|accessdate=23 August 2012|author=Ain't It Cool News|date=21 December 2001}}</ref> whereas [[Empire magazine|Empire]] gave the film a three star rating out of five stating that "An undeniably handsome creation, but its excessive length and surplus of directorial flourishes merely exacerbate the emptiness of an initially promising plot".<ref>http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=118802{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Lisa from [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] gave a positive review mentioning that "a little Sergio Leone here, a little "Sleepy Hollow" there and, uh, martial arts-style confrontations are all deftly melded in "Brotherhood of the Wolf," an attempt to elucidate the French urban legend of the Beast of Gevaudan. This is a home-grown French actioner that wears its sincere desire to entertain on its flamboyantly tailored sleeve".<ref>http://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/brotherhood-of-the-wolf-1200466992/</ref> The blend of various movie genres such as martial arts, mystery, costume drama and horror attracted certain amounts of criticism. In particular, [[Peter Travers]] of [[Rolling Stone]] wrote "This new take on horror is more of the bloody same"<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brotherhood_of_the_wolf/reviews/?type=top_critics</ref> whereas Stephen Hunter of [[Washington Post]] said that it is "a mad agglomeration of styles and traditions that ultimately results in nothing so much as a mad agglomeration of styles and traditions." ultimately awarding the film a 0.5/4 score.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2002/01/11/AR2005040200632.html</ref> ==Alternate versions== There are three distinct and very different versions of the film: - The original French/US theatrical cut, running 143 minutes (sometimes listed as 142 minutes).<br> - The UK cut, running 139 minutes, released on home video in the UK and Australia, which removes the entire subplot of the Royal Hunter.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237534/alternateversions</ref><br> - The "Director's Cut", running 150 minutes (sometimes listed as 152 minutes), released on home video in France and Canada in 2002, and later in the US and other territories. In the United States, [[Focus Features]] originally released the 143 minute theatrical cut on DVD, on 1 October 2002.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Wolf-Christophe-Gans/dp/B00006ADEM</ref> They released a two-disc special edition DVD containing the "Director's Cut" on 26 August 2008.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Wolf-Directors-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B0019PL2P2/</ref> ==Awards== ;Won * 2001 Cabourg Romantic Film Festival: Best New Actress ([[Émilie Dequenne]]) * 2001 [[Sitges Film Festival]]: Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver ([[Christophe Gans]]) * 2002 [[César Awards]]: Best Costume Design (Dominique Borg) * 2003 Home Entertainment Awards (held by [[Video Software Dealers Association]]): Foreign Language Title of the Year ([[Universal Studios Home Entertainment]])<ref>{{cite web|title=20 Video and Video Game Titles Are Honored with 2003 Home Entertainment Awards; Winners Demonstrate the Diversity of Home Video Entertainment.|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/20+Video+and+Video+Game+Titles+Are+Honored+with+2003+Home...-a0105988146|work=The Free Library (from Business Wire)|publisher=Farlex, Inc.|accessdate=23 August 2012|author=Entertainment Editors|date=29 July 2003}}</ref> ;Nominations * 2001 [[European Film Awards]]: Best Director (Audience Award)-([[Christophe Gans]]) * 2002 [[International Horror Guild Award]]: Best Horror Film * 2002 [[César Awards]]: Best Music Written for a Film ([[Joseph LoDuca]]), Best Production Design (Guy-Claude François), Best Sound (Cyril Holtz and Jean-Paul Mugel). * 2002 [[Saturn Award]]: Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film, Best Costume (Dominique Borg), Best Director ([[Christophe Gans]]), Best Music ([[Joseph LoDuca]]), Best Special Effects (Arthur Windus, Val Wardlaw, Hal Bertram, Nick Drew and Seb Caudron), Best Supporting Actor ([[Mark Dacascos]]), Best Supporting Actress ([[Monica Bellucci]]), Best Writing (Stéphane Cabel and [[Christophe Gans]]). ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * {{official website|http://www.brotherhoodofthewolf.com}} * {{IMDb title|0237534|Brotherhood of the Wolf}} * {{mojo title|brotherhoodofthewolf|Brotherhood of the Wolf}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|brotherhood_of_the_wolf|Brotherhood of the Wolf}} * {{metacritic film|brotherhood-of-the-wolf|Brotherhood of the Wolf}} {{Christophe Gans}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Brotherhood Of The Wolf}} [[Category:2001 films]] [[Category:2001 horror films]] [[Category:2000s action films]] [[Category:2000s action thriller films]] [[Category:French films]] [[Category:French action films]] [[Category:French horror films]] [[Category:French-language films]] [[Category:German-language films]] [[Category:Italian-language films]] [[Category:Films directed by Christophe Gans]] [[Category:Films based on actual events]] [[Category:Films set in the 1760s]] [[Category:1764 in fiction]] [[Category:Films set in the 1780s]] [[Category:Films set in France]] [[Category:Films shot in France]] [[Category:French Revolution films]] [[Category:Films featuring hunters]] [[Category:Martial arts films]] [[Category:Monster movies]] [[Category:Incest in film]] [[Category:Rape in film]] [[Category:Wolves in film]] [[Category:StudioCanal films]] [[Category:Universal Pictures films]] [[Category:Films about cryptids]]'