Believe the legend.
Beware the wolf.
Valerie (Amanda Seyfried, Mamma Mia!) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (Shiloh Fernandez, United States of Tara), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village.
For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman, The Book of Eli), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them.
As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast—one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect...and bait.
Suspenseful, romantic, and gorgeously evocative with breathtaking cinematography, this re-invention of the classic tale, from director
Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), also boasts a brilliant supporting cast that includes Julie Christie (Away From Her), Lukas Haas (Inception), and Virginia Madsen (The Haunting in Connecticut).
Reviews Counted: 189
Rotten: Evokes less menace than a Teddy bear's picnic and is as disappointingly reactionary as the Bella Swan brigade.
-Sophie Ivan, Film4, April 20, 2011Rotten: The heart of the teenage girl may well be a dark forest - but never one quite so naff as this.
-David Sexton, This is London, April 15, 2011Rotten: Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? No one who sees the specimen in Red Riding Hood, that's for sure.
-Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph, April 14, 2011Rotten: Yes, there's enough connection with the source's underlying issues of repression and desire to give this reason to exist, but, boy, does Hardwicke labour in getting from fairy tale to would-be psycho-thriller.
-Trevor Johnston, Time Out, April 13, 2011
I give it a thumbs up and then some... Wonderful, suspensful, keeps you on the edge of your seat... and the end??? OMG.. cant wait to see if they do a sequel.. This is right up there and then some over the Breaking Dawn/Vampire sagas.. Bring me more red riding hood please?
Reviewer: The W Review refers to DVD version
I am a Gary Oldman fanatic; just love the man and own all of his movies BUT this one. Honestly I just could not get into it. I actually dozed off during it and that never happens with one of his movies. From reading the other reviews, it must have been just me but I was bored the whole movie. Don't let me distract you from viewing it. It may have been just a bad night because as I said, Gary is the man and usually if he's in a movie, it's terrific, stupendous, outstanding.
Reviewer: georgia Review refers to DVD version
I thought the movie was great, more like I loved it. All I have to say is that they need to make a #2 cause of the ending.
Reviewer: Evelyne Review refers to DVD version
I saw in the movies and had to buy the movie. It is a love story that takes you a wild wild with twist and turns.
Reviewer: Richard H Review refers to DVD version
I din't think it was going to be good. However, it keeps you hooked on it. It is a really good movie.
Reviewer: D Review refers to DVD version
