History Film / BrotherhoodOfTheWolf

The hero of the film is nobleman Grégoire de Fronsac (Creator/SamuelLeBihan), [[GeniusBruiser a soldier/scientist/taxidermist]] recently returned from [[UsefulNotes/TheThirteenAmericanColonies Colonial America]] with his friend and sidekick, the [[MagicalNativeAmerican wise]] [[NinjaPirateRobotZombie kung fu-practicing]] American Native Mani (Creator/MarkDacascos).

The hero of the film is nobleman Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan), [[GeniusBruiser a soldier/scientist/taxidermist]] recently returned from [[UsefulNotes/TheThirteenAmericanColonies Colonial America]] with his friend and sidekick, the [[MagicalNativeAmerican wise]] [[NinjaPirateRobotZombie kung fu-practicing]] American Native Mani (Creator/MarkDacascos).

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/Bloodborne Time for beast. Therefore, remember Hunters.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/BloodBorne Time for beast. Therefore, remember Hunters]].]]

Fronsac and Mani are quickly enlisted to hunt down the beast and study it. Along the way, they encounter a mysterious group of gypsies and a number of sleazy aristocrats. Creator/VincentCassel plays a one-armed hunting enthusiast who also takes an interest in the beast, Creator/MonicaBellucci plays a seductive Italian prostitute who is far more than she seems, Creator/JeremieRenier plays a young nobleman who assists Fronsac, and Emilie Dequenne plays the LoveInterest.

It is ''very'' loosely based on the real, historical mystery of "the Beast of Gévaudan" — a creature which allegedly killed almost 100 people, most of them women and children, over a three year period in a remote, rural area of 18th century UsefulNotes/{{France}} corresponding to modern-day [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues Lozère]]. In the summer of 1764, King UsefulNotes/LouisXV arranged a great hunt, and a wolf claimed to be the beast was slain, but subsequently more killings took place. "The Beast" has never been identified.

* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: The Brotherhood keep dogs to feed the Beast. [[spoiler:There's also the abuse Jean-François inflicted on the Beast while raising it to be his attack animal, and all the wolves he had killed for fun when feigning to hunt the Beast.]]

* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: The disguised soldiers are armed with staves and sticks, but as soon as Mani gets his hands on one, he wreckes all of them with his infinitely better abilities, complementing it with well placed kicks here and there.

* BadassLongcoat: The greatcoats worn by Fronsac and Mani at the very beginning upon their arrival in Gévaudan under a heavy rain. The image was used on most promotional material, even though they only wear them in one scene.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: The Brotherhood keep dogs to feed the Beast. [[spoiler:There's also the abuse Jean-François inflicted on the Beast while raising it to be his attack animal.]]

* DarkChick: La Bavarde, the epileptic gypsy girl who apparently can't get enough violence. Even her father is disturbed by this.

* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: The fighting styles used in the film try to be period-accurate savate, but Mani's style is clearly influenced by Mark Dacascos's background in Wun Hop Kuen Do, while Fronsac uses a stab-assisted ''tomoe nage'' at one point (although admittedly, the same throw is showcased in European wrestling manuals of the late Middle Ages, so it would not be a stretch for him to know it).

%%* LoveInterest: Marianne.

* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Sort of. [[spoiler:As his thoat has been slashed by Fronsac, Jean-François grabs one of Fronsac swords with his WhipSword. Fronsac lets the sword go when Jean-François pulls his whipsword back to reassemble it, impaling Jean-François in the process.]]

%%* TooKinkyToTorture

* AntiVillain: [[spoiler: Chastel, the primary caretaker of the Beast who also has it fight in a brutal [[BeastlyBloodsports dogfighting ring]] for good measure, is also shown to be violently harassed and thought to be a sorcerer due to prejudice against his Romani heritage, his skills as a folk healer and his daughter's epilepsy. He [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely cares for his daughter and the Beast]], and when the latter is on the verge of death, Fronsac helps him MercyKill it and leave him alone, making him one of the few conspirators to survive.]]

The hero of the film is nobleman Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan), [[GeniusBruiser a soldier/scientist/taxidermist]] recently returned from Colonial America with his {{sidekick}}, the [[MagicalNativeAmerican wise]] [[NinjaPirateRobotZombie kung fu-practicing]] American Native Mani (Creator/MarkDacascos).

''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' (''Le Pacte des Loups'' in French) is a 2001 French historical action/swashbuckler/mystery/horror film directed by Christophe Gans, who was previously known for his LiveActionAdaptation of ''Manga/CryingFreeman''.