Release Date: January 26th, 2007 by MGM. The Cast: Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy, Olivier Martinez, Katja Riemann, Bryan Dick, Chris Geere, Tom Harper, John Kerr. Directed by Katja von Garnier. BASIC PREMISE: Vivian (Bruckner), a teenage werewolf, must protect her human boyfriend, Aiden (Dancy), from Gabriel (Martinez), another werewolf. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: In Blood & Chocolate, based on a novel of the same name, Agnes Bruckner, who was amazing in Blue Car, has reached the lowest point of her career as Vivian, a teenage werewolf who works at a chocolate shop. She takes a risk of having a human boyfriend, Aiden, played by Hugh Dancy in a bland performance. The only suspense is that he may or may not find out that she’s a werewolf and expose her family’s secret. Eventually, she must protect him from another werewolf, Gabriel, who also wants to be her boyfriend. Ehren Kruger’s weak script has some unintentionally funny and cheesy dialogue peppered throughout it. Moreover, Kruger doesn’t make Gabriel an interesting enough villain, so he just ends up being stereotypical, forgettable, and not intimidating enough. It doesn’t matter whether Vivian choses to be with Aiden or not given how little chemistry she has with him. Director Katja von Garnier should have went for an R-rating instead of PG-13, which rarely works for horror films. Unfortunately, she doesn’t include enough scares, suspense or thrilling action sequences to be truly engaging. Even the special effects are unremarkable. If only it were as campy as Snakes on a Plane or Feast. SPIRITUAL VALUE: None is required or desired. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None, as long as you suspend your disbelief. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 8 IN A NUTSHELL: Lackluster, unintentionally funny and forgettable with unimpressive special effects. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: TV Main Page Alphabetical Menu Chronological Menu The "B" Menu ______________________________________________________ |