Starring:
Sarah
Patterson, Angela
Lansbury Director: Neil
Jordan Rating: R (Restricted)
Format:
Amazon.com
essential video
The tangled forest is misty with mystery, the thatched cottages are cute and
quaint, and the dashing rogues are devious charmers, but this revision of
"Little Red Riding Hood" is not your usual fairy tale. In the
troubled dreams of an adolescent girl in the hormonal rush of puberty, it
becomes a veritable werewolf story with lush storybook imagery, gothic horror
flourishes, and decidedly sexual implications. Director Neil Jordan, who
collaborated with author Angela Carter in this 1985 adaptation of her story,
applies a knowing intelligence to the bittersweet tale. The often startling
transformation effects may appear primitive compared to modern movies, but the
delight is in the dark imagination, dense textures, and fantastical wonders of
this dream world. Angela Lansbury is the story-spinning granny and David Warner
the understanding woodsman father, and watch for a devilish cameo by a sinister and seductive Terence Stamp. --Sean
Axmaker
Product Description
The story unfolds as young Rosaleen lies dreaming in her bed. A violent
nightmare transports her back in time to a world of primeval forests &
werewolves. She learns her only sister has been killed by a wolf. Her granny
weaves vivid tales of folklore & fantasy with warnings of beasts that lurk
within men. Studio: Henstooth Video Release Date: 10/15/2002 Starring: Sarah
Patterson Angela Lansbury Run time: 92 minutes Rating: R Director: Neil Jordan.
_________________
In
his book about WEREWOLVES (review below), author Bob Curran makes favorable
mention of this film—and with good reason. In a way THE COMPANY OF WOLVES
reminds me of the 1940’s B&W classic CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE. Following the
success of CAT PEOPLE, European born producer Val Lewton was pressured by his
Hollywood counterparts into making a sequel to that film. This was the age of
the mega-monsters & sequels were the rage (Son of Frankenstein, etc.)
Lewton caved in—and the resulting movie is now a cult classic. It is even more
finally crafted & absorbing than the original.
THE
COMPANY OF WOLVES is a brilliant synthesis of the European fables &
folklore concerning the grisly lycanthrope. Vignettes of various horrific
tales of werewolves are woven around the familiar story of Little Red Riding
Hood, with many entertaining twists & takes on the legend. The art direction
is wonderfully surrealistic & pleasing to the eye.
My
favorite story concerns an outdoor wedding reception hosted by
pre-Revolutionary French aristocrats. They are seated around a table inside a
pavilion. Stacks of delectable food & wine are placed all around, and the
people who aren’t engaged in snooty conversation, are stuffing their faces
like—pigs. The many servants & waiters are all bowing & scraping while
they serve their masters, yet behind the frozen half-smiles lurks contempt
& disgust for the supercilious party-goers.
Then
suddenly, amidst the gluttonous orgy, a voluptuous, obviously pregnant country
woman intrudes on the scene. She castigates the assembly for their haughtiness
& phony airs—and then drops a bombshell by announcing that the father of
her baby is the groom. She starts laughing at them as they begin to morph into
werewolves, and not just “common” werewolves, but poodle-like werewolves! Only
the servants are spared and they are obviously delighted at the turn of events.
In a final scene the country woman—a witch—sits in the top branches of a tree,
laughing in the moonlit night.
PS. I haven’t a clue why this movie was originally
given an “R” rating.
Chill-out,
the consummate actress Angela Lansbury plays Grandma!
I would give it a PG 10 & up.
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 10/07
www.gnostics.com