A Pack of Cinematic Styles

“Brotherhood of the Wolf” is the cinematic equivalent of fusion cuisine. It’s not only that this French-language film has an editor and a stunt coordinator from Hong Kong, a cinematographer from Denmark and a star from Hawaii, it’s that its very sensibility is an unapologetic melange, mixing elements of French, Asian and American cinema in ways that amuse and lead to indigestion.

One of the five most popular films of the year in France, “Wolf” is a cross-cultural hoot that no one should take too seriously. It’s a film set in an imaginary 18th century, in which some people write with quill pens and others kick like Jackie Chan. Throw in scenes in a decadent bordello and a Native American shaman who talks to trees and does some healing in his spare time and you have something that collectors of curiosities are sure to appreciate.

The word in the French film community was that director Christophe Gans (working with screenwriter Stephane Cabel) was trying to create a French version of a Hollywood action blockbuster, complete with sweeping camera work and jazzy editing. But being French, “Wolf” is on the talky side as well, with lots of faux-philosophical discussions by aristocrats with effete accents. “The Fast and the Furious” this is not.

Set in 1765, “Wolf” is based loosely on a historical incident, a series of more than 100 brutal attacks by an unknown animal called the Beast of Gevaudan that understandably terrorized that region in the South of France.

“Wolf” begins with said beast (as yet unseen) tracking an unsuspecting woman and tossing her into the air like last week’s confetti. Described by the rare attack survivors as having teeth like knives and weighing more than 500 pounds, the beast is given to making fierce noises and has no visible fear of firearms.

These exploits have come to the attention of King Louis XV, who has dispatched naturalist-philosopher Gregoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) to study the offender once it is captured. A veteran of the war against the British in “New France,” a.k.a. the future U.S. of A., Gregoire has returned with more than the usual souvenirs.

Shadowing his every move is a Iroquois companion named Mani (Hawaii-born martial arts champion Mark Dacascos). “He’ s not my valet,” he says briskly by way of introduction, “he’s my brother.”

Gregoire and Mani’s entrance into “Wolf” during a driving rainstorm is the film’s best sequence. Wearing three-corner hats and raincoats buttoned up to just beneath their piercing eyes, the two men ride slowly into a band of ruffians and dispatch the lot with some savvy martial arts moves.

If those ruffians are surprised to come across fighting techniques choreographed by Hong Kong veteran Philip Kwok (who did the fight scenes for John Woo’s “Hard-Boiled”) in 18th century France, they do not let on. In fact, strangely costumed men--and women--with martial arts prowess are apparently to be found all over this region of France. Who knew?

Finding out the truth about the beast (which, predictably, is more terrifying unseen than seen) turns out to be no simple matter, and involves Gregoire with people like one-armed aristocrat and world traveler Jean-Francois (Vincent Cassel) and mysterious Italian demimondaine Sylvia (Monica Bellucci).

Our hero even finds time to romance local beauty Marianne, played by Emilie Dequenne, worlds away from the gritty title role in “Rosetta” that won her the best actress prize at Cannes.

The guilty pleasure of “Wolf” is the character of Mani, a whiz with both feet who is not half bad with a tomahawk either.

A New Age combination of Zen monk and Tonto, Mani comes with his own supply of magic mushrooms and has a mystic brotherhood with wolves that comes in awfully handy.

“He could almost be the star of a video game,” his director said with enthusiasm. And so he could.

*

MPAA rating: R, for strong violence and gore, and sexuality/nudity. Times guidelines: nudity, sexuality, strange violence.

‘Brotherhood of the Wolf’

Samuel Le Bihan...Gregoire de Fronsac

Vincent Cassel...Jean-Francois

Emilie Dequenne...Marianne

Monica Bellucci...Sylvia

Jeremie Renier...Thomas d’Apcher

Mark Dacascos...Mani

A Davis Films-Studio Canal production, in co-production with TF1 Films Production, in association with Les Soficas, Natexis Banques Populaires Images and Studio Images, with the participation of Canal Plus, released by Universal Focus. Director Christophe Gans. Producers Samuel Hadida, Richard Grandpierre. Screenplay Stephane Cabel. Cinematographer Dan Lautsten. Editor Sebastien Prangere, David Wu. Costumes Dominique Borg. Music Joseph Lo Duca. Production design Guy-Claude Francois. In French, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours, 22 minutes.

In limited release.