Starring: Agnes Bruckner, Olivier Martinez, Hugh Dancy
Directed by Katja Von Garnier
Screenplay by Ehren Kruger
Studio: MGM/Sony Pictures
Video: 2.35:1 Enhanced for 16:9 Widescreen, 1080p HD
Audio: English PCM 5.1 Uncompressed, English and French DD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, English, Spanish, French
Extras: Deleted Scenes, Cast Commentary
Length: 98 minutes
Rating: **1/2
‘Blood & Chocolate,’ a stylish and sometimes visually stunning werewolf movie, disappeared quickly from the box office, and is likely to fare about as well in Hollywood’s canon of lycanthropic horror movies. The story revolves around Vivian (played by Agnes Bruckner), a young werewolf who is brought up with the knowledge that werewolves exist hidden throughout our modern society, and that being a lycanthrope (werewolf) is a much more desirable blessing than a curse. After her parents are killed in an accident, Vivian is sent to Romania to live with her uncle Gabriel (Olivier Martinez), steeped in lycanthropic lore, who secretly plans to mate with his niece to fulfill a long-foretold prophecy that will bring about a new age for the werewolf. Vivian, however, has her own plans; she desperately wants to be human, and pursues a relationship with Aiden (Hugh Dancy), even though a relationship with a human is forbidden by her werewolf heritage. Needless to say, serious bedlam ensues.
This movie falls firmly into ‘guilty pleasure’ territory for me; but while it’s a sometimes pretty enjoyable watch, it just doesn’t measure up to more classic horror movies on a number of levels. The acting is often pretty tame, and the extensive use of CG is sometimes just over-the-top. Even the hint of eroticism with the underlying current of forbidden love fails to elevate the film; if anything, it’s definitely not erotic.
The image quality of the Blu-ray disc is actually pretty good, and quite surprisingly so for such a relatively low-budget film. Blacks are really deep, and the film’s contrast seems quite natural. There was a small amount of grain apparent at places throughout the film, but that could very well have been by design. The film’s budget restraints are much more obvious in the movie’s soundtrack; despite the presence of uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio, the sound is only serviceable at best. The disc’s extras don’t add much in terms of value to the overall package, either. If you’re a fan of the film, this is definitely the version to own; otherwise, it’s probably just a rental.
– Tom Gibbs
