BigBadWolf

Big Bad Wolf (2006)

An awkward kid, Derek, that wants to be popular and join the fraternity that his deceased father belonged to, sneaks his friends to his stepfather’s cabin, without permission, for a weekend of partying. But when a werewolf shows up and tears the partygoers apart Derek has a problem. He gets away with his friend Sam, but they both suspect that Derek’s stepfather is to blame for what happened. This suspicion is only further confirmed when Derek’s uncle shows up and explains that he thinks Derek’s father was killed by a similar creature when the three of them were hunting. Before you can say pass the silver bullets Derek and Sam are going head to head with the werewolf.

This movie is a lot of fun. First of all the story is entertaining, but at the same time very brutal. The werewolf is a beast and does whatever it likes, but for the first time in any movie I’ve seen also has the ability to drop some great one liners. The first half hour will have you laughing and cringing alternatively, which I found very cool. I will say that the story then slows down in the middle section, but then picks up it maniacal energy for a great ending. The thing that really stands out with this movie is how it can be funny at times, while pulling no punches and being unpleasant at others. I’m not just talking about the violence either. There is a scene where they are trying to get a DNA sample of the stepfather and how they end up getting it is incredibly disturbing and twisted. But that is how this movie handles it’s business and in the end I have to give it credit for not shying away from some nasty stuff.

The cast is very young, but does a good job in their roles. To be honest though they are blown of the screen whenever they are in scenes with Richard Tyson who plays the stepfather/werewolf. In or out of the makeup he is such a great villain and is a completely heartless badass. Without him in the role I’m not sure the movie would have worked as well for me. A lesser actor might have played up the humor in some of the dialogue more, where Tyson is a real SOB when delivering the lines. This gives the movie much of it’s punch. David Naughton (American Werewolf in London) and Clint Howard (Ice Cream Man) have what are glorified cameos. Don’t know why that filmmakers do that, but they do.

Okay so this is a new horror movie and there is a bit of CGI in it. But it isn’t intrusive and goes hand in hand with some really freaking awesome practical effects. You have legs getting ripped off, chests carved up, some ball ripping, and yes some good throat ripping. Maybe it was my expectations, but I just can’t remember a movie delivering this much good practical gore in a long time. Toss in a werewolf design that might be a bit cheesy, but is all guy in a suit and you have what makes for a really good time.

I love practical effects and I’m always on the look out for a good werewolf movie. Most of the time they are filled with terrible CGI transformations and don’t deliver the goods. Big Bad Wolf is everything that I look for in good werewolf movie. Other than a stretch in the middle of the movie where it drags a bit this is a good time. I recommend Big Bad Wolf as at least a rental, if not a purchase.

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer