Seth Paxton
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 1998
- Messages
- 7,585
I preferred Emilie as well. Must be the red hair.
La Bête du Gévaudan was a real wolf-like monster that prowled the Auvergne and South Dordogne areas of France during the years 1764 to 1767, killing about 100 people, often in bizarre circumstances. Every effort to stop her failed and she became nationally infamous. The King - Louis XV - took a personal interest, partly because she caused unrest in an area of tension and potential revolution. Many explanations - mutant, prehistoric beast etc. - were put forward at the time and during the two centuries since but none has ever been generally accepted. The important firm fact is that sufficient evidence remains to prove La Bête really did exist and was not just a myth.
Click the above link to see the full story.
So far as I can tell (and forgive me, but I've never studied France, so I could easily be wrong here), it looks like while the film was shot in the Pyrenees, the soutwest border, the story and historical events actually took place near Cevannes National park, in south central, as that is where Auvergne seems to be (click following link for Auvergne map). I could find nothing on South Dordogne though.
Auvergne, France
Auvergne, detail
The opening assault, while frightening, is a direct ripoff of the first shark attack in 'Jaws'.
The opening bit is so Jaws it's amazing, yet at the same time unique in how they achieved the same effect in a much different setting. And the violence of it still sets you back with some fear.
I understand you didn't like it, but I wonder if you have looked at some of these other reviews. I think almost everyone acknowledged its weaknesses as well as its strengths.
And I will stand fully behind the statement that the cinematography is amazing.
Todd, I assume you read my post on page 3 then, which spoke explicitly about the double meaning to the title.