Wolfhound

The Russians had probably watched way too much 1964’s Frosty before filming this fantasy. Or maybe they just can’t take these sorts of stories seriously. (15.05.2018)

An overly affected, unsatisfactory, and almost unintentionally ridiculous finale knocks Wolfhound into unnecessarily mediocre waters. I mean, there's no way his grubby Eastern nature belongs in such waters. He's a strapping lad who cuts his bloody way to fame through steamy forests and dozens of adversaries at a time when family fantasy is everywhere, so it makes me happy to see something like this. Especially when he's supported to the hilt by Rybnikov's music, which makes the best of even throwaway scenes like the flashback from the mines. (30.05.2009)

Wolfhound owes its existence and success to Timur Bekmambetov and his film Night Watch, which not only sparked a renaissance of Russian film but also a series of fantasy films that were very successful with the Russian audience. Paradoxically, I gave Night Watch four stars and only three to Wolfhound, even though it is a much more grandiose spectacle filled with money and overall more professional. But Night Watch was first and what I forgave in it, I don't want to forgive in Wolfhound. It is evident that it is influenced by Hollywood fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian or The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and for my taste, it is both a bit too cosmopolitan and unnecessarily overloaded with digital effects. The creators should have stuck more to East Slavic mythology and developed the story at the expense of visual effects. In its attempt to compete with American productions, Wolfhound slightly reminds me of French action films that also try to catch up with and surpass famous Hollywood works, and the creators do not realize that at best, they are catching up with what was popular 15-20 years ago. Overall impression: 65%. (27.05.2009)

Ein russischer Fantasyfilm, der sich auf eine angenehme Art und Weise von der slawischen Mythologie inspirieren ließ. Es handelt sich um eine eindeutige, aber wirkungsvolle Mischung aus all den Conan-Filmen, Der-Herr-der-Ringe-Filmen und anderen bekannten Streifen. Schade, dass Wolfhound sooo lang und manchmal sooo langweilig und lächerlich ist. Auf das monströse Finale, das überwältigend und episch sein möchte, hätte ich ganz verzichten können. Es ist schade, dass keine Serie entstanden ist – sie hätte vielleicht besser als The Witcher sein können (an den mich der Film mehrmals erinnert hat). (13.04.2012)

Yuck, that sucked. Totally typical of the idea of a "gritty" fantasy world in the eyes of a 12-year-old enthusiast. A tough, soft-spoken hero with his heart in the best possible place, a whiny hysteric, a wizened old man who is more than he seems, a treacherous traitor, platonic love, bloody battles. Cliché over cliché. When *SPOILER ALERT* Wolfhound stood with the biggest bastard on the edge of the precipice and he, despite the protagonist's last-minute efforts to help him, plunges a sword into his stomach, I expected him to at least say "What did you expect from a legitimately evil character, bitch?" *END SPOILER* Just awful. The only things worth anything are the briskly filmed fights and the beautiful natural scenery. Gritty fantasy simply can't be black and white, which this is. (13.07.2010)