Blood and Chocolate (PG-13)

Young, beautiful werewolves battle in Bucharest.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Metro-goldwyn-mayer Pictures, Metro-goldwyn-mayer Pictures
  • Directed By: Katja von Garnier
  • Cast: Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy, Olivier Martinez
  • Running Time: 098 minutes
  • Release Date: 01/26/2007
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 06/12/2007
  • Genre: Horror
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: violence/terror, some sexuality and substance abuse.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that while this werewolf movie doesn't include any truly horrific onscreen violence, it does show the results of violent attacks -- namely, bloody injuries and dead bodies. As a child, the central werewolf witnesses her parents' shooting deaths (the child's perspective might be troubling to younger viewers). Most of the rest of the violence is less emotionally invested. Lots of images of wolves hunting and attacking humans; fights include leaps, punches, and kicks, as well as stabbings and falls. Some chase scenes through streets feature tense cuts and dark shadows. On the sex side, there's some cleavage on display, a girl dances provocatively at a nightclub, there's talk of "mating," and a romantic couple kisses (sex is implied). Once they're dead or wounded, wolves revert back to human form, nude (the crucial parts are covered). Fairly mild language; the characters drink liquor and discuss drugs and drug dealing.

Families can talk about the tension between Vivian's family expectations and traditions and her desire to be "free" of them. How does she come to trust her own instincts? How does Vivian's position represent that of other women in the pack? How does her childhood trauma affect her decisions? How does Vivian's struggle relate to the kinds of issues that real teens deal with? What could the movie be a metaphor for?

Message

Social Behavior:

Werewolves range from ferocity to nobility; human male protagonist is earnest; Vivian is torn between her wolfness and her humanness.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some drinking in nightclub; several mentions of absinthe (once as "poison"); reference to drug dealer's bad acts ("dirty needles" and selling to children).

Violence

Wolves hunt and attack humans, leaving bloodied carcasses; one attack on a girl is rendered so that the result makes the point (but quick, flashy cuts omit the actual assault); prolonged attacks on the hero, with fighting and throwing/slamming, ripping of bodies; he assaults the wolves with a silver knife and sharp-edged pendant (bloodied wolves transform into human bodies); wolves growl and look menacing; assault on drug dealer has him smashed into bar and floor, begging for his life; lengthy shootout at film's end (werewolves shoot at each other).

Sex

Discussion of pack leader "taking a mate" every seven years; romantic scenes and kissing between primary couple; one cutaway from a prolonged nighttime kiss suggests that a couple had sex; some cleavage-baring outfits; after transforming into wolves, the human bodies appear naked (the crucial bits are always covered); girl dances provocatively, with shot of her bottom from male observer's point of view (she later appears later in a nightgown, about to be wolf-meat); lyrics in nightclub song include "I want to taste you."

Language

Fairly minor, including "hell," "damn," "bitch" (several times).

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

In BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE, werewolves have a hard time. Lurking in shadows, unable to "be themselves," the werewolves feel resentful and surly. Though they must hunt (it's their instinct), they try to hunt those humans deserving of a bad end. Enter 19-year-old Vivian (Agnes Bruckner), a werewolf who still suffers from her traumatic childhood in America. Now living in Bucharest and working as a chocolatier, Vivian loves to run free through the forest as a wolf, but doesn’t much like ripping victims limb-from-limb. Her attitude doesn't sit well with her fellows, who want her to do as she's told. She's supposed to "mate" with pack leader Gabriel (Olivier Martinez), but she’s not fond of him and falls in love with a human, Aiden (Hugh Dancy), a novelist who's in Bucharest to research the loup garoux. He's smitten when he meets a girl he believes to be human, but he's also well-versed on werewolf lore. Vivian is also rumored to be the subject of a prophecy, making her extra-valuable to Gabriel: She might be "the one" to lead her fanged community into a new sort of existence, deemed the "age of hope.”

Is it any good?

2
The story is told from the werewolves’ point of view, which makes for an interesting film. The wolves' perspective makes humans look scary, especially when they come bearing large guns. The film never quite articulates what the "hope" is, so it's unclear whether wolves and humans will actually find a way to get along.

It's not easy to read Vivian's face -- she's always sensual and slightly pouty, as well as by turns angry, aggressive, aggrieved, and accusatory. In this, she embodies the movie's unresolved tensions. Still, she makes a solid case for girl werewolves' rights, seeing the world in a more "holistic" way than her masculine counterparts. That alone makes her heroic.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

4


Posted on 03/24/08 by Coolchris330 Kid contributor, age 12

A Movie about Wolves

After looking up Horror on IMdB - I found this and saw it was only "12" in the UK. So I gave it a go - as a build up to White Noise. I was thrilled - it was good fun - I had goosebumps when the shadows were leaping about at the begining - however - apart from that - ready for White Noise. Content: ViolenceTerror - I saw evidence of terror and violence involves mostly animals - once animals are killed they are shown with a bloody cut - however these scenes are brief Sexuality - 2 main characters are in love and when the werewolves are killed - they return to human form nude. Substance Abuse - A woman administers an antidote through a needle into her neck - a man is forcefully injected in the neck - causing him to pass out 4 of 5 stars. (All of the content above is well within PG-13)
5


Posted on 09/11/07 by daddy long legs Kid contributor, age 11

THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you have to let your kids see this my mom thought it was boring but I loved it and im 11 i dont care what commonsense sais it is not needed for kids 14 and up my 9 yearold sister whatched this for gosh sake. p.s. DONT LET THE TITLE FOLL YOU THIS MOVIE IS AWESWOME ALSO DONT LISSEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3


Posted on 07/03/07 by cortright5 Adult contributor

Very stylish

Good young beautiful werewolf coming of age film. Human young man meets werewolf fall in love (sexual scenes abound) and then the conflicts begin. It runs along the same lines as Underworld except it misses some of the intensity. The story is a little to clean, however there is plenty of blood and gore to go around. A caution for the under 16 age bracket. Know your kid.
0


Posted on 06/20/07 by neutron189 Kid contributor, age 13

Gives wolves a bad name.

I give this movie "Two thumbs down" for it further damages the reputation of wolves. I also, as a member of Defenders of Wild Life. Will be reporting this. :)
3


Posted on 06/14/07 by XreaperX Adult contributor
4


Posted on 02/17/07 by rosebud2 Kid contributor, age 10
1


Posted on 02/13/07 by sunni47 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 02/03/07 by Bossychick Kid contributor, age 12
5

Posted on 01/28/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 6

(I must -read a book every 8 years.)

5


Posted on 01/28/07 by gogooo7 Adult contributor

See all 11 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/03/07 by cortright5 Adult contributor

Very stylish

Good young beautiful werewolf coming of age film. Human young man meets werewolf fall in love (sexual scenes abound) and then the conflicts begin. It runs along the same lines as Underworld except it misses some of the intensity. The story is a little to clean, however there is plenty of blood and gore to go around. A caution for the under 16 age bracket. Know your kid.
3


Posted on 06/14/07 by XreaperX Adult contributor
1


Posted on 02/13/07 by sunni47 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 01/28/07 by gogooo7 Adult contributor
2

Posted on 01/26/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

A must see movie for adults!

Kids should not watch this movie! Only Smart Mature Adults!

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

4


Posted on 03/24/08 by Coolchris330 Kid contributor, age 12

A Movie about Wolves

After looking up Horror on IMdB - I found this and saw it was only "12" in the UK. So I gave it a go - as a build up to White Noise. I was thrilled - it was good fun - I had goosebumps when the shadows were leaping about at the begining - however - apart from that - ready for White Noise. Content: ViolenceTerror - I saw evidence of terror and violence involves mostly animals - once animals are killed they are shown with a bloody cut - however these scenes are brief Sexuality - 2 main characters are in love and when the werewolves are killed - they return to human form nude. Substance Abuse - A woman administers an antidote through a needle into her neck - a man is forcefully injected in the neck - causing him to pass out 4 of 5 stars. (All of the content above is well within PG-13)
5


Posted on 09/11/07 by daddy long legs Kid contributor, age 11

THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you have to let your kids see this my mom thought it was boring but I loved it and im 11 i dont care what commonsense sais it is not needed for kids 14 and up my 9 yearold sister whatched this for gosh sake. p.s. DONT LET THE TITLE FOLL YOU THIS MOVIE IS AWESWOME ALSO DONT LISSEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0


Posted on 06/20/07 by neutron189 Kid contributor, age 13

Gives wolves a bad name.

I give this movie "Two thumbs down" for it further damages the reputation of wolves. I also, as a member of Defenders of Wild Life. Will be reporting this. :)
4


Posted on 02/17/07 by rosebud2 Kid contributor, age 10
5


Posted on 02/03/07 by Bossychick Kid contributor, age 12
5

Posted on 01/28/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 6

(I must -read a book every 8 years.)

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