Blood and Chocolate Parent Guide
Parent Movie Review
Some movies are so convoluted it’s hard to know where to start. This film’s title alone ought to warn audiences that this script is full of implausible pairings. The blood part becomes evident soon enough when a trio of Colorado vigilantes murders a family and burns their house to the ground. Why? We’re not sure.
The second part of the title takes a little longer to discover. Apparently the slaughtered family emigrated from the Romanian capital of Bucharest. And that is where Vivian, the one surviving daughter of the massacred household, is sent back to live with her Aunt Astrid (Katja Riemann), who, by coincidence, is a chocolatier.
During the day, the now grown-up Vivian (Agnes Bruckner) works in her aunt’s candy shop and makes deliveries. At night she hangs out at a club where she doesn’t appear to have any fun at all. She refuses to dance, sulks over her drink and berates her cousin (Bryan Dick) and his cronies for their foolish, hotheaded antics.
Still later, the real truth of Vivian’s life emerges. She, like her extended family members, is part of an ancient sect of werewolves known as the Loup Garou. Masquerading as humans by day, they can turn themselves into real wolves simply by willing it. Deep in the Romanian forest they gather on the first full moon of the month to hunt as a pack. Congregating around a large rock, their leader Gabriel (Olivier Martinez) presents a human sacrifice. This time it happens to be an unlucky chap who has been caught trafficking drugs. (Cause enough to make him the object of their gory entertainment.)
Before slashing the captive’s arm (presumably to release the scent of blood and incite their inner wolf instincts), the group, still in human form, crouches and jostles like a pack of hungry wolves, waiting for their prey to make a futile run for safety. After giving the unlucky “meat” a charitable head start, the crowd takes off, magically transforming along the way into a ferocious bunch of werewolves.
It’s unfortunate then that a young, graphic artist (Hugh Dancy) studying the legend of the Loup Garou for his next novel, would fall in love with Vivian who, unbeknownst to him, is one of them. The unsuitable friendship raises the hackles of all of Vivian’s family members who believe she is the one destined to be the next female leader of the pack. When Vivian turns her back on the prophecy and decides to take charge of her own future, the canines are ready to attack.
In this dog-eat-dog script, there is plenty for parents to worry about. Bloody depictions of death, stabbings, shootings and explosions all rock the screen. Naked bodies, sexual innuendo, erotic dancing and profanities are also included. Added to those concerns are laughable platitudes, cheesy special effects and a confusing plot that takes itself much too seriously, making this doggie of a tale anything but delicious to watch.
Starring Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy. Running time: 98 minutes. Theatrical release January 25, 2007. Updated April 2, 2009
Blood and Chocolate
Rating & Content Info
Why is Blood and Chocolate rated PG-13? Blood and Chocolate is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence/terror, some sexuality and substance abuse
Young Vivian’s idyllic childhood is shattered when her parents and siblings are shot and vigilantes burn her house to the ground. Unfortunately violence continues to swirl around the girl when a young tourist is killed and mutilated by a wolf. In a bloody hunt, a wolf pack chases down and kills a man in revenge and later tries to do the same to another unfortunate human. During the encounters between the humans and werewolves, many victims are slashed with knives, burned in a fire and stabbed. The naked corpses of wolves transformed back into human form are seen lying on a rocky creek bed. A naked girl and some female buttock nudity are also shown. Participants at a nightclub engage in erotic dancing while others drink at a bar. The script includes some sexual discussions, vulgarities and terms of Deity.
Page last updated April 2, 2009
Blood and Chocolate Parents' Guide
In the film, both humans and werewolves are afraid of one another. Why do we often mistrust things that we don’t understand or that are different in some way? What are the consequences of fear in the movie?
Vivian is believed to be the chosen one, destined to be the next wife of Gabriel. Does she believe it is her fate? Why isn’t she eager to fulfill the prophecy?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Blood and Chocolate movie is June 11, 2007. Here are some details…
DVD Release Date: 12 June 2007
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment presents Blood and Chocolate on DVD, Blu-ray and PSP (Play Station Portable). Along with the feature presentation, fans can also sink their teeth into some deleted scenes and a directors commentary. Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English), with subtitles in English, French and Spanish.
Related home video titles:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban features a character with a secret werewolf history. A big, bad wolf is also at the center of the story in Hoodwinked, the animated retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.