Le Pacte des loups

Another French attempt to make a film in a Hollywood package, but this time it got out of hand. The result is a mess, with a monster like in Predator, a victim caught like in Jaws, love, sex, kung fu (in 17th century France !!), an Indian, a mutant villain, etc. It's terrible crap, but I have to say I wasn't bored. (25/05/2002)

In the competition for the most botched theme, Gans wins the prepared wolf plague. The sad thing is, because of how exciting and well-built this film can be at times, it's not properly funny in other places. The alternation of the torn action plane with a dark drama about the coming change of order is simply like drunk regulars in a cheap Hamburg tavern. There should be less kung-fu, less Vinnetou, and more spoiled sophistication, like the realia and the magnificent Cassel bring to the film. The idea seems brilliant to me, the processing burned like a cheap burger at a booth. (10/02/2011)

Brotherhood of the Wolf is a type of French epic film that aims to emulate overseas blockbusters with its colorful plot, settings, and action elements, and it does a fairly good job of it. The excellent cinematography, dynamic action, romantic exteriors, and decent special effects deserve praise. However, the screenplay falters, as it apparently doesn't pay much attention to the logic of the plot or many essential details. An Indian and his European friend use East Asian martial arts, and the creature on screen seems to belong to a different genre. Nevertheless, it's a decent watch, and the audience won't be bored for even a moment. Overall impression: 50%. (13/06/2006)

The biggest enemy that stood in the way between me and Brotherhood of the Wolf was not the Gevaudan beast, but the excessively long running time, which could have been cut by a full third without any problem or harm. The film has too many elements that are both related and unrelated, giving the overall impression of a messy direction at times. Mixed in are a beast hunt, countless fight scenes, visits to a brothel, a monster rampage, and more. Monica Bellucci's cameo is a delight and so are the monster's visuals, though at times too CGI. In short, an average French film, which at times seems disturbing to the point of embarrassment, but it certainly doesn't disgrace itself as a representative of its genre. (30/06/2011)

Undoubtedly, the film’s assets include Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci’s performance, as well as the fact that at certain moments I watched it with a kind of perverse joy. That’s it, however, in terms of the positives. It was basically a hodgepodge of various genres, which was neither here nor there. It would have been worth only one star, but another one goes to Monica Bellucci... (04/11/2020)