Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 14, 2014 17:21:48 GMT -6
variety.com/2014/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-cub-1201303256/
Summer camp is again a killing field in this nicely directed if ultimately somewhat disappointing horror opus.
Dennis Harvey
Once again camping in the woods proves a great way to get killed in “Cub,” which puts a number of Belgian boy scouts and their leaders in harm’s way just over the French border. Jonas Govaerts’ first feature is a pastiche of familiar horror elements that’s well crafted throughout, but falls prey to the common dilemma of finding a payoff worthy of the buildup. In that respect it ultimately disappoints, but it’s still a promisingly assured debut that should do well on Dutch- and French-speaking turf while scoring healthy home-format sales farther afield.
Twelve-year-old Sam (Maurice Luijten) is the odd boy out in an Antwerp scout troupe dominated by peer bullies and mean-spirited adult Peter (Stef Aerts), who inexplicably is allowed to bring along his rather vicious dog. The latter two are frequently reined in by the good-cop adult leader, Chris (Titus De Voodgt), and pretty cook Jasmign (Evelien Bosmans) also serves as a buffer between Sam and his tormentors. Nonetheless, Sam keeps getting into trouble — more so when he claims to have seen “Kai,” the mythical werewolf-boy the counselors have been scaring their charges with stories about.
But he’s not lying. Even the locals know to avoid this remote part of the woods, which the group is forced to camp in after finding their booked site occupied by some loutish dirt bikers. Little do they know they’ve landed in an area lined with sensors and booby traps operated from an underground lair by a sinister man (Jan Hammenecker) named only as “the Poacher,” and spied upon by the feral Kai (Gill Eeckelaert).
After an hour of effective buildup that nicely juggles suspense, humor and homage, all hell breaks loose. But while the now-gory action is well handled, the mysteries and relationships the script had seemed to be carefully tending are simply abandoned. We never really find out what the deal is with the Poacher or his young charge, and Sam’s hinted-at troubled psychology isn’t developed enough for an eventual transformation to make much sense.
Nonetheless, “Cub” will be an enjoyable ride for horror fans. Shot almost entirely outdoors, it looks quite handsome in Nicolas Karakatsanis’ widescreen lensing, and other tech/design factors are expertly turned as well.
Toronto Film Review: 'Cub'
Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Midnight Madness), Sept. 8, 2014. Running time: 85 MIN. (Original title: "Welt")
Production
(Belgium) A Potemkino presentation in association with Submarine, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Wallimage/Bruxellimage, Telenet, Medialaan, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, Kinepolis, Nederlands Film Fonds, Indiegogo and Kinology. (International sales: Kinology, Paris.) Produced by Peter De Maegd. Executive producers, Louis Tisne, Richard Christian Matheson.
Crew
Directed by Jonas Govaerts. Screenplay, Govaerts, Roel Mondelaers. Camera (color, HD), Nicolas Karakatsanis; editor, Maarten Janssen; music, Steve Moore; art director, Gaert Paredis; re-recording mixer (Dolby SRD), Antoine Vandendriessche; sound designer/supervising sound editor/re-recording mixer, Fabien Pochet; visual effects, Lieven Slabbinck, Thiadmer van Galen; assistant director, Wim Bonte, Joke De Bruyn.
With
Maurice Luijten, Gill Eeckelaert, Evelien Bosmans, Titus De Voodgt, Stef Aerts, Jan Hammenecker, Kris Vinck. (Dutch, French dialogue)
Summer camp is again a killing field in this nicely directed if ultimately somewhat disappointing horror opus.
Dennis Harvey
Once again camping in the woods proves a great way to get killed in “Cub,” which puts a number of Belgian boy scouts and their leaders in harm’s way just over the French border. Jonas Govaerts’ first feature is a pastiche of familiar horror elements that’s well crafted throughout, but falls prey to the common dilemma of finding a payoff worthy of the buildup. In that respect it ultimately disappoints, but it’s still a promisingly assured debut that should do well on Dutch- and French-speaking turf while scoring healthy home-format sales farther afield.
Twelve-year-old Sam (Maurice Luijten) is the odd boy out in an Antwerp scout troupe dominated by peer bullies and mean-spirited adult Peter (Stef Aerts), who inexplicably is allowed to bring along his rather vicious dog. The latter two are frequently reined in by the good-cop adult leader, Chris (Titus De Voodgt), and pretty cook Jasmign (Evelien Bosmans) also serves as a buffer between Sam and his tormentors. Nonetheless, Sam keeps getting into trouble — more so when he claims to have seen “Kai,” the mythical werewolf-boy the counselors have been scaring their charges with stories about.
But he’s not lying. Even the locals know to avoid this remote part of the woods, which the group is forced to camp in after finding their booked site occupied by some loutish dirt bikers. Little do they know they’ve landed in an area lined with sensors and booby traps operated from an underground lair by a sinister man (Jan Hammenecker) named only as “the Poacher,” and spied upon by the feral Kai (Gill Eeckelaert).
After an hour of effective buildup that nicely juggles suspense, humor and homage, all hell breaks loose. But while the now-gory action is well handled, the mysteries and relationships the script had seemed to be carefully tending are simply abandoned. We never really find out what the deal is with the Poacher or his young charge, and Sam’s hinted-at troubled psychology isn’t developed enough for an eventual transformation to make much sense.
Nonetheless, “Cub” will be an enjoyable ride for horror fans. Shot almost entirely outdoors, it looks quite handsome in Nicolas Karakatsanis’ widescreen lensing, and other tech/design factors are expertly turned as well.
Toronto Film Review: 'Cub'
Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Midnight Madness), Sept. 8, 2014. Running time: 85 MIN. (Original title: "Welt")
Production
(Belgium) A Potemkino presentation in association with Submarine, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Wallimage/Bruxellimage, Telenet, Medialaan, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, Kinepolis, Nederlands Film Fonds, Indiegogo and Kinology. (International sales: Kinology, Paris.) Produced by Peter De Maegd. Executive producers, Louis Tisne, Richard Christian Matheson.
Crew
Directed by Jonas Govaerts. Screenplay, Govaerts, Roel Mondelaers. Camera (color, HD), Nicolas Karakatsanis; editor, Maarten Janssen; music, Steve Moore; art director, Gaert Paredis; re-recording mixer (Dolby SRD), Antoine Vandendriessche; sound designer/supervising sound editor/re-recording mixer, Fabien Pochet; visual effects, Lieven Slabbinck, Thiadmer van Galen; assistant director, Wim Bonte, Joke De Bruyn.
With
Maurice Luijten, Gill Eeckelaert, Evelien Bosmans, Titus De Voodgt, Stef Aerts, Jan Hammenecker, Kris Vinck. (Dutch, French dialogue)