"Carrie" but masculine and instead of stones falling from the sky, the teenager boy is metamorphosed into Lycanthrope (werewolf). Nothing very original, but pictures rural France, with typical characters making a good portrait of this small village. Turns out to be very genuine and fun.
I recommend, had a good time.
19 Reviews
werewolf with a chip on his shoulder
killercharm23 September 2022
In rural southern France a high school drop-out is shunned by the other boys in his town, he doesn't care cause he has a girlfriend. They have a ball until he gets bitten. When he does he loses time. His uncle can tell something is up just by the smell. We go through the usual gross-out-instead-of-suspense while he watches himself change, over time instead of during the full moon only. This movie is just ok with a good ending. Teddy and even his girl don't react in believable ways, nobody does. What's worse is the story isn't interesting. It's a werewolf movie with no fear, no suspense, and no tale.
Entertaining Execution, Questionable Logic
cmharels28 September 2020
For the most part, the performances are well done and subdued while the rising action has a decent pace. For me, I had more of an issue with the logistics of the film in terms of the body horror and the climax scene of the film. I do think it's worth a watch and the performance of the lead is laudable.
Teddy loves you
kosmasp28 October 2021
If you agree to eat a woman, usually there is some innuendo involved in that lingo. And there is a scene that while not graphic in its nude depiction of the people involved, is quite intense in the going down department. Having said that, the movie has its roots in the horror genre and has some neat ideas to work with.
Yes you will able to tell where this is heading and that's ok. Because the actors really help make this quite the experience. It is slow but it works overall. Good effects too.
Yes you will able to tell where this is heading and that's ok. Because the actors really help make this quite the experience. It is slow but it works overall. Good effects too.
half-interesting copy of Raw
dimbil2 February 2022
A different approach to the werewolf genre...
paul_haakonsen5 August 2021
Well, if nothing else, then "Teddy" certainly was a different approach on the werewolf genre.
When I stumbled upon this 2020 French movie titled "Teddy", I must admit that I was under the impression that I would be in for a horror comedy, given the movie's cover. And of course, with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I found the time to sit down and watch it.
And "Teddy" is definitely a watchable movie, although it wasn't particularly a movie that fell well into my particular taste in movies. Now, don't get me wrong here, because "Teddy" is entertaining enough, however, it just fell short of being what I assumed it would be, and there just wasn't enough happening throughout the course of the entire movie to properly keep me entertained.
There were some good moments throughout the course of the movie, where writers and directors Ludovic Boukherma and Zoran Boukherma definitely were delivering some wholehearted and well-written material. But ultimately, then "Teddy" was just too mundane.
Now, as I am by no means well-traversed in the French cinema, then I can't claim to be familiar with actor Anthony Bajon at all. But he definitely put on a very convincing performance and carried the movie well enough here, with the lead role in "Teddy".
Visually then there were potential in "Teddy", although you shouldn't be expecting to be in for a grand display of special effects or CGI. And for a werewolf movie, then there wasn't a whole lot of traditional things going on here, such as a full transformation scene.
And now that I have seen "Teddy", I can say that it is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time. Did it offer anything revolutionary or new to the werewolf genre? No, not really. Was it an outstanding or memorable foray into the werewolf genre? No, not realy.
I am rating "Teddy" a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.
When I stumbled upon this 2020 French movie titled "Teddy", I must admit that I was under the impression that I would be in for a horror comedy, given the movie's cover. And of course, with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I found the time to sit down and watch it.
And "Teddy" is definitely a watchable movie, although it wasn't particularly a movie that fell well into my particular taste in movies. Now, don't get me wrong here, because "Teddy" is entertaining enough, however, it just fell short of being what I assumed it would be, and there just wasn't enough happening throughout the course of the entire movie to properly keep me entertained.
There were some good moments throughout the course of the movie, where writers and directors Ludovic Boukherma and Zoran Boukherma definitely were delivering some wholehearted and well-written material. But ultimately, then "Teddy" was just too mundane.
Now, as I am by no means well-traversed in the French cinema, then I can't claim to be familiar with actor Anthony Bajon at all. But he definitely put on a very convincing performance and carried the movie well enough here, with the lead role in "Teddy".
Visually then there were potential in "Teddy", although you shouldn't be expecting to be in for a grand display of special effects or CGI. And for a werewolf movie, then there wasn't a whole lot of traditional things going on here, such as a full transformation scene.
And now that I have seen "Teddy", I can say that it is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time. Did it offer anything revolutionary or new to the werewolf genre? No, not really. Was it an outstanding or memorable foray into the werewolf genre? No, not realy.
I am rating "Teddy" a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.
I got played
gustavo-morais15 September 2020
This movie is absolutely not scary at all and the story is very weak. I'm usually pretty easily frightened, but after watching this I had one of the best nights of sleep of my life.
The few good things about the movie are that it has a couple of funny moments and it's pretty well produced.
Fantastic
pascal-natelhoff1 July 2021
Imagine Quentin Dupieux filming a remake of It Follows produced by A24 in the charming french countryside. It's just wonderful. This is not a horror movie. It's a comedy and it's actually funny. I've read people found the story weak but the real strength of this picture is found in the layered meaning of the story. The protagonist, a teenager who's just trying to be and to build is future while enjoying life and growing up, finds himself confronted to stereotyped and dreamless adulthood and friends. The metaphor used (the werewolf transformation) brilliantly shows the inadequacy and the rage felt by the hero, alone in his trouble. We once knew that same feeling we had as teenagers when puberty hit, trying to build our own identity. Just brilliant.
Too weird and mundane even for French cinema
fernyperez-611-26799416 August 2021
The French have produced a good number of horror movies such as Haute Tension, Raw, L'Interieur, Martyrs or Frontiers. They manage to shock and transgress horror fans whoblike myself are used to the usual Hollywood horror tropes. Sadly Teddy doesn't belong in that list of good horror movies. They try to tackle the lycanthrope theme with mundane and nonsensical results. The move has a few comedic moments and the end is probably the best part. In a rural French village, a douchy bald-headed big-eared kid with glasses and heavy metal t-shirts who for some reason doesn't get along with the authorities, somehow gets bitten by a mysterious creature in the woods. From then on not only does he start to change but his life starts falling apart too, especially with his family and equally odd blonde girlfriend. The plot sounds good but alas it is showered with silly drama, nonsensical typical French dialogues, a few gross scenes and one of the most unlikable kids in horror cinema. If you like French horror movies with a bit of weirdness, give it a shot but be warned, award-winning it ain't.
Good idea, weak realization
tottf24 April 2021
"Ginger Snaps" but with a French dude
jfgibson7313 August 2021
Here is another movie I really wanted to like but ended up disappointed in. My problem with "Teddy" is that they focused too much on the more mundane details of this guy's life. It was marketed as a horror movie, but it feels more like a drama most of the time--almost a soap opera, in fact. It just happens to have one sequence where some violent things happen, but it just didn't feel rewarding enough to sit through everything else. It was well made--it looks nice, it is well performed--I just didn't think there was much to the story.
A werewolf in the Pyrenees
danybur15 January 2022
Summary
A successful look at the myth of the werewolf, in this case associated with a coming of age and a love story of a teenager in a town in the French Pyrenees, with the realism, dryness and social notes typical of French terror and a moving result.
Review
Teddy is a teenager who lives in a French town in the Pyrenees area. From the moment he is bitten by something hidden in the woods, his behavior begins to change.
Teddy hasn't finished school, he's dating a girl who's about to finish high school, he loves satanic rock, he lives with a strange uncle and he has an amazing job. Outside of all this, he is a simple and impulsive boy who lacks a social life.
The film by Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma (critic's award at the Sitges Festival 2020 and part of the official selection for the Cannes Film Festival) brings their perspective on the myth of the werewolf, framing it in a coming of age and a story of love, enhanced by notes on class, work, on medical knowledge and cultural differences, notes never underlined, but rather arise spontaneously from history; Teddy and his entourage have something of Bruno Dumont's Hors Satan.
The story develops a successful narrative crescendo, generally staying within a realistic register that includes everyday episodes (including sexual ones) that in this context take on enormous tension and others that are very simple but put the viewer to the test. The directors know how to resort to ellipses and off-screen with solvency, to which is added a certain humor that emerges from the small-town dynamics. And when it comes to solving situations, the film shows the characteristic dryness of French terror, which does not prevent them from being moving.
Anthony Bajon (absolute protagonist) composes very well a lonely Teddy who generates empathy in the viewer. And I left for the end a special mention for the remarkable soundtrack by Amaury Chabauty, which contributes opportunely and enormously to the climates created in the film.
A successful look at the myth of the werewolf, in this case associated with a coming of age and a love story of a teenager in a town in the French Pyrenees, with the realism, dryness and social notes typical of French terror and a moving result.
Review
Teddy is a teenager who lives in a French town in the Pyrenees area. From the moment he is bitten by something hidden in the woods, his behavior begins to change.
Teddy hasn't finished school, he's dating a girl who's about to finish high school, he loves satanic rock, he lives with a strange uncle and he has an amazing job. Outside of all this, he is a simple and impulsive boy who lacks a social life.
The film by Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma (critic's award at the Sitges Festival 2020 and part of the official selection for the Cannes Film Festival) brings their perspective on the myth of the werewolf, framing it in a coming of age and a story of love, enhanced by notes on class, work, on medical knowledge and cultural differences, notes never underlined, but rather arise spontaneously from history; Teddy and his entourage have something of Bruno Dumont's Hors Satan.
The story develops a successful narrative crescendo, generally staying within a realistic register that includes everyday episodes (including sexual ones) that in this context take on enormous tension and others that are very simple but put the viewer to the test. The directors know how to resort to ellipses and off-screen with solvency, to which is added a certain humor that emerges from the small-town dynamics. And when it comes to solving situations, the film shows the characteristic dryness of French terror, which does not prevent them from being moving.
Anthony Bajon (absolute protagonist) composes very well a lonely Teddy who generates empathy in the viewer. And I left for the end a special mention for the remarkable soundtrack by Amaury Chabauty, which contributes opportunely and enormously to the climates created in the film.
Absolute Garbage
arrmeen13 August 2021
This is an absolute pathetic nonsensical garbage. Don't trust the ratings here at all, this movie is neither funny,nor horror nor does it have any good kills for a werewolf movie. Waste of time , the director tries to be too over smart and bores.
Why does Shudder produce such movies?
Why does Shudder produce such movies?
Promising ,I really wanted to like it
dosingpsychedelics6 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's started off with a nice creepy feel .it had so much potential and then it fell flat with its ending everyone knows they cannot die unless it's a silver bullet.would have been nice if he knocked up the girlfriend with a baby after he became a werewolf and maybe it ended with an ultrasound that looked like a baby with wolf like features ;) over all it was a decent watch with good actors but it could have developed a better storyline.
When a werewolf movie is not a werewolf movie
jakerocks7 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's an interesting film to talk about once you've seen it. An obnoxious and easily agitated young man believes he is bitten by a werewolf and unfortunate events ensue. It's unclear whether this is truly a werewolf movie or if the protagonist has a bad trip after consuming mushrooms.
The experience of watching this film is more like watching a younger man's version of Falling Down with Michael Douglas. In some ways it's easy to identify with him. But in other ways he is just repulsive. The film is more sophisticated than it lets on in the trailers.
The girlfriend tries to do the right thing when she realizes the inevitable. But he can't let go. It's kind of a coming-of-age story. And there's a hint of class war, rich vs poor. There are a few interesting layers to the story. But not a conventional werewolf movie by any means. Horror fans will be disappointed. But indy movie fans will be intrigued. If they had called it, "The Werewolf of Le Boulou (or wherever he's from in the film)" I think it would have been a better title.
The experience of watching this film is more like watching a younger man's version of Falling Down with Michael Douglas. In some ways it's easy to identify with him. But in other ways he is just repulsive. The film is more sophisticated than it lets on in the trailers.
The girlfriend tries to do the right thing when she realizes the inevitable. But he can't let go. It's kind of a coming-of-age story. And there's a hint of class war, rich vs poor. There are a few interesting layers to the story. But not a conventional werewolf movie by any means. Horror fans will be disappointed. But indy movie fans will be intrigued. If they had called it, "The Werewolf of Le Boulou (or wherever he's from in the film)" I think it would have been a better title.
Not bad at all
searchanddestroy-130 July 2022
Excellent little French horror yarn, which had nothing to do with a comedy of any kind. In this horror genre, most of those films are comedy oriented; but I repeat, this one is a tragedy and also a curious story telling. Characters are interesting and not the kind of stuff which we could expect from a French film; I could have expected to see something close to old Val Lewton's productions, I mean atmospheric scenes. Film makers to follow in the future.
Underwhelming teen drama instead of horror
aronharde30 January 2024
To be honest I was a little bit underwhelmed by the movie. Our main character Teddy is your typical loner that does not have many friends and probably doesn't know which direction his life should go and then one day he gets attacked by an unknown creature. From there on he starts to change in his behavior and his physicality. It's pretty obvious that this is a werewolf movie and I absolutely love those. I think there are not enough good werewolf movies out there but sadly this one could not contribute. It's not a bad movie don't get me wrong, the characterization and the drama are pretty good and the humor is decent, but I was expecting something different and I feel like this movie was a let down overall. The last act is where the movie starts to pick up some pace but even that can't save it because you are left with the feeling that you haven't seen that much. It's a decent werewolf movie but don't expect much horror, but instead prepare for a teen drama. [5,2/10]
The Sad Story of a Bullied Boy Called Teddy
EdgarST4 May 2024
Although the Boukherma brothers' film "Teddy" looks like one more title in the filmography on lycanthropy, crossed with a coming-of-age tale, it is a dense story that, in the end, omits the humorous notes that have previously marked it. It is not even explicit when the creature appears on the scene, although it is as bloody as Brian De Palma's «Carrie», the drama that it reminded me the most, with the difference that Carrie White's telekinesis is a gift of her own, while Teddy Pruvost's lycanthropy is a curse caused by a wolf that exterminates people and animals.
«Teddy» begins questioning the construct called "la France", then gives the concept of family a left, plays with youth's primaeval sex and dreams, and inserts small slaps, here and there, to civil defense, superstition and "New Age", to finally end with a right hand that sends the provincial middle class to the canvas. It is not an easy mix, which, with a werewolf attached, ignores the chance to terrify the audience (except for a couple of Cronenberg-esque moments of physical terror) or to use gimmicks a la «Carrie», like its fearful coda with a girl kneeling by Carrie's grave. When the tale of «Teddy» is over, the game ends dramatically, without oneirism or jump scares.
Selected for the official competition at the Cannes film festival in 2020, with Spike Lee as the president of the jury, possibly «Teddy» would have won one or two awards: for example, the cast, made up mostly of natural actors, is magnificent. However, the pandemic eliminated those possibilities and, in a way, stigmatized it as an untimely work in the atmosphere of desolation we all experienced in 2020-21.
For those who shy away from horror movies, try not to overlook this one, and for fans of the genre, enjoy it, but be warned that you will see something different from the crossbreeding of men and wolves that the film industries usually produce.
«Teddy» begins questioning the construct called "la France", then gives the concept of family a left, plays with youth's primaeval sex and dreams, and inserts small slaps, here and there, to civil defense, superstition and "New Age", to finally end with a right hand that sends the provincial middle class to the canvas. It is not an easy mix, which, with a werewolf attached, ignores the chance to terrify the audience (except for a couple of Cronenberg-esque moments of physical terror) or to use gimmicks a la «Carrie», like its fearful coda with a girl kneeling by Carrie's grave. When the tale of «Teddy» is over, the game ends dramatically, without oneirism or jump scares.
Selected for the official competition at the Cannes film festival in 2020, with Spike Lee as the president of the jury, possibly «Teddy» would have won one or two awards: for example, the cast, made up mostly of natural actors, is magnificent. However, the pandemic eliminated those possibilities and, in a way, stigmatized it as an untimely work in the atmosphere of desolation we all experienced in 2020-21.
For those who shy away from horror movies, try not to overlook this one, and for fans of the genre, enjoy it, but be warned that you will see something different from the crossbreeding of men and wolves that the film industries usually produce.
See also
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