The Hair of the Beast

I've been a horror fan since childhood, and werewolves movies are so few so when a new title is out there, I try to watch it as soon as possible. But what a disappointment with this one. At the first ten minutes I realized that this wasn't a real horror movie, well, horror comedy is OK when you got the right tone, but here we got a mix of too much elements; comedy, suspense, fairy tale, horror?, folklore, and a very long etc. The problem is the mix, this movie goes nowhere, it doesn't have identity and the cocktail finally is way too tasteless. Not to mention the werewolves CGI that looks like play station 1. Well, at least it doesn't bore you, a few laughs over here and there, but I'll be waiting for a new "real" wolf man movie.

Joseph Côté is your typical "courreur des bois" (or wood runner), a scallywag who lives outside the boundaries of the law, the church, and social rules. We are introduced to him as he is about to get executed for innumerable petty crimes. Joseph escapes and manages to disguise himself by donning the garb of a dead Jesuit priest found in a ditch. Unknowingly, he has usurped the identity of Père Brindamour, a famous werewolf slayer. As he arrives in a village with the original intent of simply getting food and rest, he starts realizing that he's not the only visitor in the area as a werewolf kills one of his new acquaintances. People quickly look up to him, the unfortunate impostor, to rid the area of the beast (or beasts!).

Believe it or not, I've quite enjoyed this movie over the remake of the Wolfman (2010). Sure, the effects are not as good (the werewolf will sometimes look like it's stuck in a cross-over between a video-game and a movie- but is still quite effective in any scene where he isn't seen in harsh light). This movie had at least one good jump scene that got most of the audience scream in surprise. And most of all, it's another wonderful blend of humor and horror put together.

Those familiar with French-Canadian lore will notice the filmmakers tried to stay away from the religious explanation for the werewolf being (tradition has it that if someone hasn't gone to mass in 7 years, he becomes a werewolf), but they also did a nice job of steering away from the traditional Hollywood explanation too (though you might raise an eyebrow...)

The acting is good, the atmosphere is creepy, the jokes work- the jumps as well. It's obviously not Oscar material, but it's still a fun romp in a new genre of movie never seen in Quebec before, a period-piece horror film. All in all, this movie should make it in the top ten of anybody's favourite werewolf movies.

This movie wants to be as diversified as possible but it takes too many bits and parts of almost every style. Some historical and folklore influences here, some spooky horror movie inspirations over there, a little bit of the Quebecker's typical comedy style in here, some little pieces of a classical adventure movie without forgetting some fantasy or fairy tale allusions brought to us in a tale teller's style, another bit of suspense, then a bit of a classical romance or love story... In the beginning, you could really get confused with all these influences. I really asked myself in the first thirty minutes: what's this movie? A comedy movie? An adventure movie? A semi-historical movie? A horror movie? Well, the movie takes bits and parts of everything but it isn't really into some style for real. We have a big identity problem here and this potpourri of styles isn't really good for the dynamic and tension of the film. But at least, it makes this movie somehow unpredictable and kind of unique. I think this is really the first serious werewolf movie that has ever been done in Quebec and it doesn't copy the usual Hollywood clichés or the classical pioneer stories. The movie has its own identity and it is sympathetic.

This "unstraight" movie isn't a bad one at all. The movie shows us many breathtaking landscapes. The movie presents many interesting historical personalities, cities and behaviours. The actors are all doing at least a very solid job and many famous Quebeckers play in this movie once again. The twists and the script are not that surprising or shocking but at least funny and somehow original.

If you want to see a movie with a quite huge variety of styles, a unique atmosphere and the typical solid and charming Quebecker style of filming and acting, you will at least get a very entertaining and somehow original movie. If you are looking for an intense werewolf movie or horror film, you will probably not get what you are waiting for. This movie is not very twisted or profound, but it is clear from the beginning on that the actors and directors don't take themselves that serious. You will get at least a very entertaining and charming movie but not a masterpiece about which you will think about for a long while. The movie is worth to be seen once but it is not worth buying the upcoming DVD in the future.

In 1660's "New France" (Quebec) a legendary Priest, renown for hunting werewolves, is found dead by a promiscuous trapper named Joseph Cote, who is fleeing for his life, after he was caught going down on the wrong man's wife.

Cote steals the mans clothes and assumes his identity- hoping that noone will recognize he is the man being sought by authorities.

Then, while fleeing through the forest, he is attacked.

Eventually, he is found unconscious by a man from the nearby hamlet.

He and his friends tend to his wounds, and welcome him around their campfire.

However, while sitting around listening to an old folk tale, they are attacked by a giant wolf-life creature...which kills one of the men...and leaves Joseph with a bite in the leg.

It's at this point that the villagers begin to believe that he is actually Father Brind'amour- the infamous Priest from all their favourite legends.

But they are worried that he will become a werewolf during the next full moon...so they are wary of his presence...and, thus, lock him in a cabin.

But he manages to escape and woo a young maiden.

They re-capture him the next day, but, by this point, he's already suspected of being involved with the death of a villager, and disappearance of a young woman from the local convent.

Thinking he turned into a wolf; escaped; and carried out these crimes, before, being found in the morning...they nab him and prepare to burn him on a pyre.

But the diary of the wolf-hunting Priest claims that such a curse is not actually spread through the infection of wounds.

Rather, it can only be acquired from birth- when a female wolf mates with a male human and successfully produces offspring (alongside the bloodlines that arise from such a union).

Cote tries to convince the villagers to wait until night, to see if he changes or not.

But they are attacked while Cote is still bound to the stake.

So, realizing something else is up, they release him...which gives him the oppourtunity to redeem himself by taking the crappy CGI beast out with a miniature crossbow that shoots crucifixes.

Turns out it was one of the sons of the local Lord- who are actually a family of werewolves- the whole time.

And now that the truth has come out...it's kill or be killed...

This film is pretty similar to Brotherhood Of The Hood, just with a bit more of that subtle, lame, Canadian humour incorporated into it (and nowhere near as good).

The sets, scenery and costumes are really quite beautiful, though.

And it has that theatrical style which is typical of many francophone films (though there are also some nice cult shots thrown in there too, for good measure).

What really kills this film are the garbage CGI werewolves, and fact that everything just happens way too conveniently, so as to drive the storyline forward.

It's definitely not a bad film, or anything.

It's certainly entertaining.

But it's flaws are rather evident.

5 out of 10.

This is a light french horror movie. Spiked with humor throughout and a charismatic lead. It may not explain a lot (which can be considered either good or bad, depending on ones taste), but it does show a few things (though it is not too gory or anything of course). The suave way of the main character will either find you excited, happy and eager or numb altogether.

I watched it at a Festival and really liked it. Not without its flaws of course, but as lightweight entertainment it does work very well. The story is easy to follow and might be predictable to anyone who's seen a few of those movies. If that doesn't put you off the fun, then enjoy