TEDDY REVIEW

 

In a rural French town, twenty-something Teddy is scratched by an unknown beast and slowly undergoes frightening changes.

Starring: Anthony Bajon, Christine Gautier, and Ludovic Torrent

Directed and written by: Ludovic Boukherma, and Zoran Boukherma

  “Teddy” doesn’t mind getting in a little trouble, and he’s about to get in more trouble than ever. Teddy (Anthony Bajon) is in his twenties, and looking for his place in this small town. Not many people like him, especially after doing things like disrespecting cops during a ceremony. His parents are gone, and he’s living with his strange uncle. The only thing that might be going well for him is his attractive girlfriend, Rebecca (Christina Gauthier). He definitely knows he lucked out with her, and isn’t going to let her go easily.

  How long the couple stays together will change after Teddy decides again to go where he doesn’t belong. He witnesses some cops investigating a field where some animals were killed. He knows it’s a wolf, and even chases after it in the woods one day. Of course this is a bad decision, as the wolf scratches him which can only mean one thing. Yes, Teddy has some transforming to do!

  Teddy is going to be an unusual character for audiences to deal with. At first they’ll probably see him much like the town. Someone who doesn’t fit in with the norms of a small village, and definitely not someone worthy of a woman like Rebecca. However, there will be moments when the audience might feel for him like when he’s sexually harassed at work, or later when relationship troubles arrive. How they feel about him will matter when it comes to transforming, and what eventually happens to him.

  Speaking of transforming, this isn’t a werewolf movie with a lot of transformations happening. Instead, Teddy seems to go through a slow one noticing things here and there. He also goes through some emotional changes along the way. The big transformation is alright, but quickly done only seeing part of him. There’s some carnage to follow, but it isn’t as fun as it could have been because the audience is largely given the aftermath to enjoy. Probably the best of the werewolf moments include some painful times Teddy deals with changes involving his tongue and eye.

  “Teddy” is a werewolf film dealing a lot with its main character. There isn’t going to be any major exploration of werewolves, how the town is out to stop them, or how he can cure himself. Instead, the audience is given a character they probably won’t like to begin with, and will have to see if they feel the same about him in the end. The transformation here is slow giving the audience some cringe worthy moments. It does have a werewolf bloodbath ending, but unfortunately the audience sees much of it after the fact. With that, I give it 2 pools of blood.

  

  HorrO

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