Big Bad Wolves

Name: Big Bad Wolves
Genre: Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: January 17, 2014
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Doval'e Glickman, Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: January 17, 2014 | Not Rated

Starring: Doval'e Glickman, Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad

Summary: A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings - a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder.

Director: Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado

Genre(s): Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Kim Newman

Dec 10, 2013

Even if you think you've seen this story too often, Big Bad Wolves will surprise and enthrall. A thriller which bites deep, it has a light touch which finds humanity even in the worst horrors. Read full review

Film.com William Goss

Jan 15, 2014

A masterfully queasy blend of dark humor and darker humanity. Read full review

Matt Glasby

Dec 10, 2013

Brutally simple and brilliantly told, channeling everything from the Coens to Korean masters to create a blood-curdling black comedy. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jan 23, 2014

Occasionally the film seems as if it will make a political statement (the value, or lack thereof, of torture, for instance). But it doesn’t really follow through. But they keep us occupied with twists, well-played, and some of the laughs are genuine, if uncomfortable and guilt-inducing. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Jan 16, 2014

Keshales and Papushado have great filmmaking chops—as Israeli imports go, this is as far from the austere norm as it gets—but there’s a hollowness at the core of Big Bad Wolves, a creeping sense that they have no clear perspective on they mayhem they’re presenting. Read full review

The Guardian Mike McCahill

Dec 10, 2013

The actors lend it a sick heft, and there are droll, region-specific footnotes...but one senses the sniggering film-makers playing variably funny games with our phobia of pedophiles, rather than having anything lasting to say about it. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Jan 16, 2014

Is there a point? All the filmmakers seem interested in is the ugliness of the main Israeli characters. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bladejs

Mar 2, 2014

Thriller with a good story, great atmosphere of Israel, and made in "tarantinian" way (lot of humor). The Best Movie of 2013. Finally, you can see: pedophiles, Jews, aArabs, iPhones, thriller and a black comedy in one film.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Phofer

Sep 2, 2014

A terrific thriller. I had no idea what was going to happen next. From beginning to end i riveted from the outstanding performances, great script and fantastic direction. Probably the best film of 2014. I still haven't seen all the movies I want to yet but, I have a feeling this won't be topped.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Godoy7

Apr 28, 2014

Magnificent film to see with your family
Magnificent film to see with your family
Magnificent film to see with your family
Magnificent film to see with your family
Magnificent film to see with your family
Magnificent film to see with your family

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Aug 26, 2015

Wolves in a pack hunting for a beast-sheep.

The first thing I remembered was, 'Save the Green Planet', but it was a crime-thriller, not a fantasy-sci-fi. Tough guys in the leather jackets, guns in the one hand and cigars in the other, that's what I imagined when Tarantino favoured it. ButWolves in a pack hunting for a beast-sheep.

The first thing I remembered was, 'Save the Green Planet', but it was a crime-thriller, not a fantasy-sci-fi. Tough guys in the leather jackets, guns in the one hand and cigars in the other, that's what I imagined when Tarantino favoured it. But this film was slightly not an aggressive like too violent. The screenplay was disturbed frequently when it begins to engage on the nervous side. Hence it makes you say 'just missed', sometime disappointedly. Anyway, no one told me it was a dark comedy, I took it as a surprise and somewhat enjoyed it.

It was on the serious subject, but not the presentation. Keeps everything lightly, especially conceals the dark side of truth for the final twist. For us, as the viewers, the prediction is two ways, either 'he did' it or 'he didn't' like taking a side. Film length was good with a moderate pace. There's no place for the characters to unroll with the proper introductions, including not even the opening event on which the whole film stands. From the beginning itself the writer wanted to save it for the final revelation. That's not smart, that's afraid of leaving hints.

"Maniacs are afraid of maniacs."

Kind of similar to Hollywood's 'Prisoners'. Well, almost matches, except the characters and places. A good movie, but not that good. Well attempted, I am sure many would love this film. The narration is about kidnapping a guy on the suspicion of crime for a secret interrogation. It hauls in the remaining till advance to the crucial end part. In the mean time, the torturing techniques and the suspense hold our position.

Because of Tarantino's nod, it's an easy 'go for it', well, mostly for his fanbase. I say consider it and decide yourself after the watch, don't believe, not even me. To me it was the great opportunity missed to dominate, especially having a powerful title and theme. Still, I don't reckon it is a bad or worst movie, but surely one of the year's top 50 or maybe 25.

The movie was as I thought. The story and my anticipation were on the parallel track aiming the same direction. At least I was occupied, but the issue was, it did not go above my expectation to surprise me with some interesting elements. It flunks, like trying to fill the new wine in an old bottle with the old label and description in it. Stylish, but attempted to be too clever was the let down by the slimmest margin. On the other hand, as coming from the Israeli, it is exceptional.

6.5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shaunmed

Feb 7, 2014

It's difficult until the very end to see if there is a comedic rationale for the plentiful gore. If you're annoyed but unanswered questions, this movie will disappoint. But the acting is superb and the story suspenseful enough to keep you engaged.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Nesbitt10

Jun 7, 2014

Directing duo Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado's second feature "Big Bad Wolves" is their follow-up to the darkly comic "Rabies" (2011). Once again they attempt to create a genre-savvy thriller that blurs the lines between horror and political satire. Papushado's and Keshales bloody taleDirecting duo Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado's second feature "Big Bad Wolves" is their follow-up to the darkly comic "Rabies" (2011). Once again they attempt to create a genre-savvy thriller that blurs the lines between horror and political satire. Papushado's and Keshales bloody tale does a fine job mounting the tension, however the movie never fully clicks as a gritty revenge thriller or as a dark comedy. In regards to Quentin Tarantino's full-throttled endorsement of "Big Bad Wolves" as the year's best film is an absolutely ridiculous claim that sells his own work short.

There's a serial killer loose, and he's raping, torturing and decapitating girls, whose heads he then hides, mainly, it seems, to give this otherwise generic setup some needed flair. As the police futilely chase clues, a motley triangle emerges: a suspended cop, Micki (Lior Ashkenazi); a religious teacher, Dror (Rotem Keinan); and a mourning father, Gidi (Tzahi Grad). In time, the three converge in an isolated cabin that turns into a chamber of horrors as they play a psychological game to extract the location of the missing head from our killer.

"Big Bad Wolves" begs to be read as a metaphor, and the directors are taking dead aim here: Israel's own ugly history of torture and its ramifications. But their point soon wears itself out, and what remains is merely cheap shocks and an increasingly tiresome sense of black humor that neutralizes its attempt to increasing intensity.The film fails to deliver by suffering from irregular tonal shifts, a paper-thin story line, and a lethargic second act that stumbles into an incredibly underwhelming conclusion.

"Wolves" is a well made film beautifully shot in widescreen and technically impressive. It has its moments of wit with humor, and on occasion, it does get its desired effect. However there is just not nearly enough of it. "Big Bad Wolves" huffs and it puffs, but it doesn't blow the house down.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

Big Bad Wolves is an interesting work, violent and bloody, weak stomachs abstain, here, you will not find something of your style, although it holds a very interesting semantics, its speech is quite beaten by the gore becoming a parody the movie is lost.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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