When asked to picture a period drama, one rarely imagines anything particularly engaging. It’s all stuffy actors in old-fashioned clothing arguing in boardrooms and name-dropping notable historical figures. There’s an unusual subgenre of period pieces in which the true story is interwoven with a related urban legend.Brotherhood of the Wolfblends truth and mythology to explore a more grounded fantasy story.
Christophe Gans is likely best known for his controversial cinematic adaptation ofSilent Hill. Gans famously spent years bothering Konami for the rights to their beloved horror franchise. He’s set to directReturn to Silent Hill, the upcoming reboot of the series, after his absence from the disastrous second entry. Gans first approached a producer about makingSilent Hillin 2001 while shootingBrotherhood of the Wolf.
RELATED:Skyrim Players Will Love This Violent Viking Action Movie
What isBrotherhood of the Wolfabout?
The story ofBrotherhood of the Wolfis told by a French noble awaiting his execution during the revolution. He tells the tale of a series of mysterious murders in 1764 in the Gévaudan region of France. The culprit is thought to be a mysterious beast that seems to be deadlier than any ordinary animal. No one can get a good look at it, it has the strength of ten men, and it exhibits human-level intelligence.Knight/naturalist Grégoire de Fronsacand his Iroquois blood brother Mani arrive to capture the monster. Fronsac swiftly develops a mutual attraction with a count’s daughter named Marianne and earns the ire of her brother Jean-François. While investigating a beast victim, Fronsac discovers evidence that the beast may not be the only force of evil.
Fronsac and Mani find evidence of man-made weapons in the beast’s victims. It doesn’t take long for the investigators to discover a hidden conspiracy. The titular Brotherhood of the Wolf is arebellious secret society usingthe beast to gradually undermine King Louis XV and take the throne. Fronsac and Mani become targets for the beast and the French monarchy. During a secret rendezvous with Marianne, Fronsac discovers that the beast won’t attack her. It’s up to Fronsac, Mani, and Marianne to determine who is behind the monster’s attacks. Secrets are revealed, bodies pile up, and the fate of the nation is at stake. It’s a fast-paced action epic with some of the most shocking set pieces of the early 2000s.
How doesBrotherhood of the Wolfrelate toSkyrim?
The central plot ofBrotherhood of the Wolfsoundslike aSkyrimsidequest line. The Dragonborn and their mighty companion travel to a village bothered by a seemingly unstoppable beast. They discover by investigating and talking to locals that the real villain is a small army of humans attempting to overthrow the monarchy by loosing monsters onto the populace. It could fit pretty easily intoThe Witcher,Shadow of Mordor,or any other fantasy-themed open-world RPG.Skyrimremains the best fit because of its base of cultural references and its unique take on the action.
One of the mostintriguing aspects ofSkyrimandBrotherhood of the Wolfis the intricate web of conflicting factions that surround the central narrative. The king sends Fronsac to do the deed, but the monarchy also pulls them off the case when they fail to deliver fast enough. The Brotherhood has its motivations, but their unknown to most of the population. LikeSkyrim, Fronsac stumbles upon the secret society while investigating a seemingly normal monster attack. Royalty, wealthy nobles, independent hunters, and even Catholic Church spies make appearances in this incredible hunt. Movie tie-in games don’t usually work out, butBrotherhood of the Wolfmight have been a solid fantasy game hook. The heroes also happen to dress exactlylike hunters fromBloodborne, which is really neither here nor there.
How doesBrotherhood of the Wolfend?
After injuring the beast with an array of traps, Fronsac and Mani find the catacomb that serves as the monster’s cage.In a brutal battle, Mani is shot and killed. Fronsac discovers a silver bullet in his blood brother, the trademark ammunition of Jean-François. Fronsac is imprisoned. Church spy Sylvia explains that the Brotherhood’s leader is a priest named Sardis. Jean-François is revealed as the beast’s master. Fronsac invades a Brotherhood sermon and kills most of its members, including Jean-François. Sardis escapes, only to be eaten by wolves as he runs for the hills. Fronsac discovers that the beast is a trained lion in a suit of spiked armor. It’s grievously injured, so he puts it out of its misery. The aristocrat telling the story is executed, and the final scene depicts Fronsac and Marianne sailing off into the sunset.
Brotherhood of the Wolfbrings martial arts action to a period setting. It’s as exciting as it is unique. There aren’t many films likeBrotherhood of the Wolf.Gans has never madeanything in the same spirit. Fans of action set-pieces, medieval violence, and stellar period costumes will loveBrotherhood of the Wolf. Hunt down this genre-bending beast of a film.
