(2005/FRANCE)
AKA-L’EMPIRE DES LOUPS
REVIEW BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-CHRIS NAHON CAST-JEAN RENO, ARLY JOVER, JOCELYN QUIVRIN, LAURA MORANTE, PHILIPPE BAS, DAVID KAMMENOS, DIDIER SAUVEGRAIN and PATRICK FLOERSHEIM. SOURCE-SONY DVD (NTSC REGION 1 / 2005 / 129 MINS)
Anna (Arly Jover) is breaking down, her memory is lapsing to the point where she can’t even remember her own husband Laurent(Philippe Bas). He tries to convince her that the only way to find out what is going on is to have a brain biopsy, something she is not to keen on. All totally breaks down during a dinner party where several of Laurent’s business associates have attended. As they sit there eating and enjoying their conversation, questions are asked of Anna, questions that seem to trigger stress and a total relapse. During her episode of total disembodiment, the faces of those present seem to change, revealing a dark and mutated truth, one that she can’t seem to understand.
Captain Nerteaux (Jocelyn Quivrin) is hot on the trail of a serial killer who has killed several young women to the point of being unrecognized. Carving their mouths out, slicing their faces, crushing their feet, totally brutalizing their total being. Nerteaux’s work has hit a stumbling block and recruits the help of an outlawed ex-cop Schiffer (Jean Reno). It is his dark ties to the Turkish underworld that will hopefully yield the answers into these brutal killings of young women who have been discovered to illegals from Turkey.
As Anna discovers that her own face has been altered while getting ready to go to the client for her brain biopsy, her fear is heightened to the point of losing any trust in Laurent. She decides to escape, just as Laurent discovers and gives her chase. Able to make a get-away, she seeks help.
The two fast paced linear storylines try to outpace one another until they find cross paths in an explosive mixture of action and a total atmospheric barrage of imagery and sounds. Director Chris Nahon brings to the table yet another exploration into a French genre that is rich with history and fame...the thriller. Bulking up his armament with the likes of legendary French actor Jean Reno (THE PROFESSIONAL, THE CRIMSON RIVERS) and the stunningly beautiful yet most deadly Spanish actress, Arly Jover (BLADE, JOHN CARPENTER’S VAMPIRES). Teaming them up with a host of well received performances from a whole host of well known players like Jocelyn Quivrin, who give a hard edged performance as Captain Nerteaux.
Though most would expect EMPIRE OF THE WOLVES to be yet another Jean Reno show, that is simply not true, though he does give a well noted days worth, it is in fact the lovely Arly Jover who steals this show. From her ability to project a dire sense of fear and helplessness to breaking out her demons with an explosive force. Though it’s a gradual switch between the two personalities, never the less they make up for lost time giving you an enigmatic dark edge. She simply out duels Reno in every department with complete style and grace, yet never under estimate Jeno’s character. He too gives a total 360 in the nice guy department, yet that is all I will say without spoiling the goods. Besides Jover’s hypnotizing looks and performance, it’s the film’s look and especially the film’s score that really give EMPIRE OF THE WOLVES and very entertaining 128 minutes. Long yes, but never really losing it’s steam or excitement at all.
Director Chris Nahon has certainly edged a style that is very dark and gothic like throughout this film. Innovative transitions, lush settings not to mention the many computer generated ones and his ability to pace a storyline with just the right tempo and flavor. Very much fresh on the scene, he has show maturity and progression since his first film, the Jet Li action/thriller KISS OF THE DRAGON. He colors a world that is very mythical in look and nature, a sense of the near future, but staying with a present day niche. Gloomy and often devoid in feel, especially judging by the many long faces on many of the characters throughout the film. You really gain a genuine sense of emptiness, one that is generated by the blight of Anna. Then, the tempo shifts with with swiftness to a sharp and undivided energy that is smacked in your face. Like Arly's ability to change in character, so does Nahon's ability to alter the entire feel EMPIRE OF THE WOLVES.
Sadly this recently released region 1 disc from Sony Pictures shows that they simply just don’t know how to market a foreign film of this stature. Leaving it high and very dry with a total bare bones presentation. Though the feature is squeaky clean in the audio and visual departments, there is simply no back up to it in the extra’s department. If you are region-free or multi region, I would highly recommend you purchase the French special edition released by G.C.T.H.V. Though it’s in French, there is commentary from a few of the film’s stars and director. If you are just in it for the feature, then the region 1 disc will suit you just fine.
STORY/FILM- 4/5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE- 4/5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO- 4/5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-0/5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-3/5 BITCH SLAPS
© 2006 cinema-nocturna.com
