Quentin Tarantino has called Big Bad Wolves one of his films of the year, Empire**'s Kim Newman has described it as "a thriller which bites deep" and the BBFC has pointed out that it "contains strong bloody violence and scenes of torture". Uncompromising is a word to add to the mix. This Israeli thriller brings strong word of mouth from FrightFest and other corners of the movie-viewing world, and it has a new poster to announce its impending arrival in these parts.
Tipping a nod to the wolf of folklore, the film explores man's capacity for sheer, unalloyed nastiness when sufficient justification is at hand. In this case, the recipient is suspected child murderer Dror (Rotem Keinan). He's abducted by the father of a missing girl and set upon in one of those shadowy houses in dark woods that so rarely seem to host a rom-com.
The kidnapper / torturer is aided and abetted by an ex-homicide cop (Lior Ashkenazi) with an axe to grind. But is Dror really guilty of the crime? The question is soon open to serious doubt.
Big Bad Wolves is the handiwork of Israeli writer / directing pair Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado, and builds on the promise of their debut flick Rabies. Catch it in cinemas from December 6.