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| Tzahi Grad in BIG BAD WOLVES, a Magnet Release. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. |
2013, 110 minutes
Not Rated
Review by Joshua Handler
Named the best film of the year by Quentin Tarantino, Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado's Big Bad Wolves is a twisted crime thriller/black comedy about three men who are brought together after a series of murders. The three men are a vigilante police detective, Miki (Lior Ashkenazi), a young victim's father, Gidi (Tzahi Grad), and the religious studies teacher, Dror (Rotem Keinan), who they think committed the murder.
Big Bad Wolves is like an Israeli Coen Brothers or Tarantino film. It deftly combines humor with horrific violence leaving you wondering whether to laugh or gasp. Humor pops in at unexpected times making it extremely effective. Keshales and Papushado's plotting is incredibly tight, as every character, scene, and prop is there for the reason. The plot is unpredictable, twisting and turning until the very last shot.
Tzahi Grad, Lior Ashkenazi, and Rotem Keinan lead the cast and each one creates a fascinating, complex character. The characters all feel real and the actors bring their characters' idiosyncrasies to life brilliantly. Grad's performance, though, was the standout. It is delightfully unhinged - he's like a time bomb that could go off at any second, which makes his scenes intense, yet funny.
Big Bad Wolves is filmed with style and energy and is just a movie that has to be seen to be believed. It somehow manages to be funny, disturbing (the torture scenes are very graphic), and intense simultaneously and is guaranteed to be a cult hit that will satisfy and amuse genre film fans around the world. If you're looking for something a bit darker, this is certainly the way to go this weekend. Even better, you can find the film on VOD as well as in theaters.
3.5/4
Big Bad Wolves is like an Israeli Coen Brothers or Tarantino film. It deftly combines humor with horrific violence leaving you wondering whether to laugh or gasp. Humor pops in at unexpected times making it extremely effective. Keshales and Papushado's plotting is incredibly tight, as every character, scene, and prop is there for the reason. The plot is unpredictable, twisting and turning until the very last shot.
Tzahi Grad, Lior Ashkenazi, and Rotem Keinan lead the cast and each one creates a fascinating, complex character. The characters all feel real and the actors bring their characters' idiosyncrasies to life brilliantly. Grad's performance, though, was the standout. It is delightfully unhinged - he's like a time bomb that could go off at any second, which makes his scenes intense, yet funny.
Big Bad Wolves is filmed with style and energy and is just a movie that has to be seen to be believed. It somehow manages to be funny, disturbing (the torture scenes are very graphic), and intense simultaneously and is guaranteed to be a cult hit that will satisfy and amuse genre film fans around the world. If you're looking for something a bit darker, this is certainly the way to go this weekend. Even better, you can find the film on VOD as well as in theaters.
3.5/4
This is not the way you write a review buddy. And you say you love NYU? What has the school taught you?
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