Blood & Chocolate

Based on a novel by Annette Curtis Klause, with a title pulled from Hermann Hesse’s "Steppenwolf," German director Katja Von Garnier ("Bandits") uses Bucharest, Romania as a vibrant backdrop for yet another predictable werewolf movie, albeit with a slight twist. Vivian Gandillion (Agnes Bruckner) returns to her original home of Romania after her family is hunted and murdered in a Colorado forest house from which Vivian escapes by running into the woods before turning into a full-fledged wolf (AKA a loup garoux). The 19-year-old Vivian works for a local chocolatier when she isn’t hanging out with her pack, led by Gabriel (Oliver Martinez), who meet monthly to hunt a single human beneath the light of the full moon. Although betrothed to the ageless Gabriel, who must marry a new mate every seven years, Vivian is romantically tempted by the human affection of Aiden Galvin (Hugh Dancy – "Ella Enchanted") an American graphic novelist researching the legend of the loup garoux for his next book. The story is a no frills template of every other modern teen werewolf tale except that the werewolves here are actual wild wolves rather than man/beast creations.

Rated PG-13, 98 mins. (C) (Two Stars)