The Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des loups Director's Cut Film Review)

2001 Metropolitan Filmexport
Directed by: Christophe Gans; Written by: Christophe Gans and Stéphane Cabel
Starring: Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel, Émilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci, Jérémie Renier, and Mark Dacascos
MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 153 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 9/10

Grégoire de Fronsac, naturalist of King Louis XV, is sent to a territory in remote and beautiful Southern France, to investigate the mystifying deaths of villagers at the hand of what's said to be an unknown beast. Fronsac, who has brought along his Native American companion, Mani, soon finds himself not only tangled up in a romance with the daughter of a local count, but a mysterious and powerful Italian courtesan named Sylvia. Though Fronsac enjoys his romantic adventures, the local politics are complex and frustrating, the local priest seems to be eyeing him suspiciously, and the beast cannot be found, even as its victim count rises. Soon, Fronsac and Mani find themselves in over their heads...or they would at least, if not for the fact that they both know kung fu.
Thanks to the success of 1999's The Matrix, global cinema saw an influx of weird, high concept actions films. Le Pacte des Loups or as we say in America, The Brotherhood of the Wolf, is among the weirdest...and best! Director and co-writer, Christophe Gans, presents something that feels incredibly original here, a mashup of a period piece, a horror film, a romance, a drama, a high-octane action film, a thriller, historical fiction, fantasy, a nature film, a monster movie. It doesn't all work and the plot gets messy near the end, but the beauty, unpredictability, thick atmosphere, excellent performances, and highly enjoyable action more than make up for it. 
As Fronsac and Mani, respectively, Samuel Le Bihan and Mark Dacascos both have a sly look in their eyes, like they have some secret knowledge, and both seem to be having a great time acting in this film. They also kick, punch, and slash through hundreds of foes, Mani smooth, fluid, and masterful and Fronsoc skillful, but leaning more into rage and brute force. Dan Laustsen's cinematography is seductive and hypnotic, the film's lush forests, hills, mountains, streams, fog, and even some impressionistic dream-like, fantastical imagery all gorgeous and immersive, backed by Joseph LoDuca's gorgeous and mesmerizing, heavily choral score.
The supporting actors also all bring their A-game here, from Vincent Cassel as Fronsac's slimy and menacing rival, to Monica Bellucci as the enigmatic Sylvia, to Jérémie Renier as Marquis Thomas d'Apcher, Fronsac's young and eager ally, to Émilie Dequenne as the only woman able to break Fronsac's libertine ways. Sure there are a few silly moments, and as stated, the plot caves in a little near the end, even if the ending of the film itself is quite satisfying, but overall The Brotherhood of the Wolf is a classic of early 00's fantasy, a blending of nearly every existent genre but romantic comedy (the worst genre), and needs to be remembered.