Red Riding Hood is an Uninspiring Tale of Love and Monsters
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Red Riding Hood is similar to the Twilight films by the same director, Catherine Hardwicke. This film appeals mainly to those between the ages of 16 and 25 - Those younger may be frightened by the wolf; those older by the fact that the film can’t decide whether it’s a romantic drama or a supernatural thriller, and as a result fails at both.
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Down!
Written by BHM Editor Horror Queen
March 11, 2011
Movie Trailer
Image Gallery
Released: March 11, 2011
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
Written by: David Johnson
Starring:
Amanda Seyfried as: Valerie
Gary Oldman as: Solomon
Billy Burke as: Cesaire
Shiloh Fernandez as: Peter
Max Irons as: Henry
Virginia Madsen as: Suzette
I normally judge films not just by the impact they have on me in the theatre, but also days afterward. I’m sorry to say Red Riding Hood is actually quite forgettable. In fact had I have not written this review right after the film, this would likely be a blank page.
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (the Twilight series), Red Riding Hood is loosely based on the fairy tale ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ but with the added affects of the big screen, and a new twist given by Hardwicke’s talent for portraying unrequited love with a little supernatural horror. Or at least that was the attempt.
Young Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is confronted with what may have been the usual medieval teen dilemma: whether or not to leave her village and run away with her childhood sweetheart and the only man she loves, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez) or stay and marry the man her parents find more financially acceptable, Henry (Max Irons). Neither is a bad choice, mind you. Both are handsome. Both are in love with her. Oh and one may or may not be a wolf.
Just as Valerie’s about to follow her heart and run away with Peter, her sister meets an untimely death at the hands (paws) of the wolf that’s plagued the area for decades, but who up until now has stayed away in exchange for a monthly sacrifice of livestock. As you can guess, the villagers are quite peeved and take it upon themselves to seek revenge and hunt the creature who’s apparently reneged on their deal. And who better than the young and virile Peter and Henry to take part in this quest. Plus it gives Valerie more time to have fun being single, although frankly there are no more men in her village and Match.com hadn’t quite take of yet. Regardless, there is not much time at all because with each moon, one by one, the deaths continue…
Enter the colorful Big Bad Wolf hunter, Solomon (artfully played by Gary Oldman), complete with all the necessary weaponry collected after years of chasing wolves, only to inform the villagers that they are wasting their time searching when the creature is actually one of them. Now if this notion doesn’t shake things up in our drab little village, I don’t know what will. Friend paranoid of friend. Brother leery of brother. At least it gives us a break from the tedious love story.
For all its shortcomings, Red Riding Hood is actually well cast. Amanda Seyfried has the wide-eyed innocence of youth and is formidable enough a presence against the fierce wolf. Gary Oldman is always brilliant, event when playing a small roll in a less than brilliant film. In fact if there were something that was going to save this film it would be the strong performances and ferociousness of the wolf itself. But the increasing muddled plot prevails over both.
For example there are so many possibilities as to who the wolf may be, including Valerie’s grandmother (Julie Christie) if the film were to stay true to the fairy tale (‘what big teeth you have, grandmother’); so many in fact that one starts to wonder if the wolf is actually someone in the audience. By this point we don’t care who the friggin thing is, we just want the 100 minutes to end.
Eventually it does end and despite the let down Red Riding Hood is, we now have to brace ourselves for… yes, a sequel.
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