Big Bad Wolves (2013)

After a little girl is brutally murdered, a suspect avoids arrest due to lack of evidence. Working separately, her father and a cop decide to do something about it.

Directors:

Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado

Writers:

Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado

Stars:

Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad

16 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tzahi Grad	...	Gidi
Lior Ashkenazi	...	Micki
Rotem Keinan	...	Dror
Doval'e Glickman	...	Yoram (as Dov Glickman)
Menashe Noy	...	Rami
Dvir Benedek	...	Tsvika
Nati Kluger	...	Eti
Kais Nashif	...	Stranger on a Horse
Ami Weinberg	...	Principal Meir
Guy Adler	...	Eli
Arthur Perry	...	Ofer
Gur Bentwich	...	Shauli
Yuval Nadborany	...	Arik
Alisa Vaisburd	...	School Girl
Guy Shefa Pesso	...	School Boy

Storyline

A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings - a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder.

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Plot Keywords:

satire | burned with a blow torch | palestine | arab | teacher | 

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Taglines:

Some men are created evil.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

18A

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film ever to screen at The Empire Leicester square screen 1 as part of Fright Fest before it's conversion to IMAX screens.

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Goofs

At the end, Micki is looking for a cell phone to call his colleagues, so he takes a bike and goes down the hill, until he meets the horseman. But Yoram, who is sleeping, has a cell phone.. If he had used that phone, the whole end could have been changed.

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Quotes

Micki: It might look like I'm enjoying this, and maybe I am in a way... but believe me, I'd be happy to stop breaking your fingers. Now would you please start talking!

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits are bilingual English and Hebrew.

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Connections

Referenced in Eretz Nehederet: Episode #11.8 (2014)

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Soundtracks

Moments in Love
Written by Ennio Morricone

User Reviews

Not scared of the big bad wolf. Still recommending the film!

Always a pleasure reviewing an Israeli film, especially one that can be considered as an attempt to qualify for the "horror" genre as has been defined by Hollywood for around two decades now. While avoiding any criticism towards the genre as it is known today, I can sincerely say I'm proud to have another Israeli film so well known, and being a devout Horror - that I'm very glad Israel has joined the list of countries making worthy Horror films.

Now for the film itself... I can't help but feeling disappointed, for a number of reasons: 1. The first reason would probably be irrelevant for anyone not familiar with Israel's film industry, and yet I must point out that using Lior Ashkenazi (a famous excellent actor) for the character of an irresponsible uneducated stereotypical Israeli police officer simply didn't feel right. Ashkenazi is as charismatic as he is talented, and his screen presence is undeniable. Seeing him making the stupid mistakes forced upon him by the script was almost painful.

2. Immediately relating to the previous reason, the film used one of the horrible "cheats" that have become the bane and doom of many Horror films, Slasher/Serial Killer films in particular. Due to my oath to avoid spoilers, I am unable to describe the cheat, but suffice to say you'll know it when you see it. It joins the infamous list of killer being faster then a sprinting victim, a car running out of gas / car keys falling due to stress and fear / cellphone having no signal and such unreasonable annoying causes of death, making the audience join hands together in an epic group face palm.

3. Like many other Israeli films, this one has been stained by the puzzling need to make a socio-political statement. Be it regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the gender discrimination problem (both described thoroughly in Israeli websites dealing with cinema reviews) - I personally find these to be redundant and plain stupid. This is a professional Horror film, not one about women's rights and equality or the contemporary political state. It has no room for such things, which do very little at most to serve the plot or the message (at least what the message should be).

4. While falling into line with Hollywood is good for the Israeli cinema's status, it made the film lose the "Israeli" uniqueness the fans have seen and loved for decades. The comic bits do little to return it. Israel's cinema is known for having its own rules and goals, and the past decade or so has brought us very little films still loyal to this tradition.

However, I still find some very glowing spots of light in the film, making it very worthwhile and recommended. The acting by the trio of main characters is absolutely exquisite. Each plays his role beautifully. I was especially impressed with Tzahi Grad as the mourning father and Rotem Keinan as the prime suspect. Whether it's the tone of voice, or the body language, or the looks on their faces in each scene - the acting is by far the best aspect of the film. The story, on the other hand, lacked, and lacked much. The effect of similar plots like Saw and The Tortured and such is way too obvious. That wouldn't have taken anything away from the story, had it been in anyway at all original, which it simply isn't. I personally couldn't guess the ending, but only due to too much credit given to the writers. I honestly have never expected them to use such a banal anticlimactic closure-less catharsis lacking ending.

All in all, I can't say I didn't enjoy the film. The suspense is nerve- wrecking and the acting is, as mentioned, profound. Therefore, regardless to the relatively low rate I've given it, I urge you to give it a chance. No, it won't be the best film you'll have seen this year, not even the best horror film, probably not even the best Israeli film. Yet it remains a film worth watching, showing Israel's progress towards the cinematic conventions of the 21st century.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew Arabic

Release Date:

15 August 2013 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Big Bad Wolves

Filming Locations:

Tel Aviv, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,342, 19 January 2014

Gross USA:

$33,232

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$291,239

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Channel Movies, United King Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1