Rent Big Bad Wolves (2013)

Big Bad Wolves (aka Mi mefahed mezeev hara) review by George Hooper - Cinema Paradiso

While films like 2012's Headhunters are able to use a dark story to bring together a sense of black comedy it doesn't always work so well when other films try it. Big Bad Wolves is such a film as it brings together a smart, unique story in such a way that it plays for laughs in such a way that the viewer is left unsure of how to feel about what ends up becoming a mess of different genres, uncomfortable comedy and mind boggling twists.

The film follows the actions of three men involved in the same case. A series of vicious killings brings these three men into each others orbit. The film follows a revenge obsessed father looking for the killer, a corrupt cop out for himself and a religion teacher the police are looking into but cannot prove committed the crimes. The three find themselves closing in on each other without realizing as the case gets much more complicated than previously expected and the three find themselves unsure of what to do or where to go next.

While the premise of Big Bad Wolves presents a dark revenge tinged tale it doesn't really play that way. The gruesome violence displayed throughout is glorified through moments of bizarre comedy as torture and other horrific acts are played for laughs in such a haphazard way that the film loses all sense of itself. Directors Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado cannot seem to get past each others ideas long enough to make a film that feels coherent.

The film does feature some outstanding visual moments and it has some realistic and honest character moments but in trying to find the levity in this depressive tale it corrupts the dark heart of the story. Keshales and Papushado have simultaneously tried to craft the same film without realizing their shared ideas might have worked better than attempting to compromise each others ideas