TIME OF THE WOLF (3+ outta 5 stars) Extremely unsettling, downbeat story of rural France in the aftermath of an unspecified catastrophe. The social order is overthrown, food and water are scarce and civilization is crumbling. A family of four retreat pack up provisions with the idea of hiding out in their secluded country cottage... only to find out that armed intruders have already taken over their home and are not going to give it up. The family keeps moving until they can find a safe place to stay... an abandoned train station taken over by refugees waiting for a train to be their salvation. The story is told mainly from the point of view of the children... who are taken aback by the sudden powerlessness of their guardians in this time of crisis... and easily exploited by the less scrupulous adults who are bent on exerting what little power they still have. Very credible (and depressing) portrayal of what such a disaster might actually be like for the (lucky?) survivors. The unpredictable storyline helps maintain the suspense... but action fans will no doubt be disappointed at the unrelenting realism.
Review of Time of the Wolf
