The Company of Wolves

A dreamy tale of a 13-year-old girl in a fairytale world with werewolves with a slightly horror atmosphere that will keep the perceptive viewer spellbound. Some may not like the slow pace, but there is one thing that cannot be denied, there are not many visually refined and original films in the world. In my opinion, one of the most interesting films of the 1980s, which made a household name out of Neil Jordan. (25/05/2002)

This bewitching phantasmagoria simultaneously delights with Neil Jordan’s masterful, emotional direction and annoys with the virginal innocence of its story, which was unfortunately conceived as an irritating tangle of three intertwined storylines. It is an experience that is at once amazing and painful, and definitely a film the likes of which you rarely see these days. Beautiful set designs and a nice cameo by Terence Stamp. (12/02/2009)

The official blurb of the distributor says this is a captivating film, but few films have captivated me less. If I didn't know that Neil Jordan is an acclaimed filmmaker and that a lot of viewers of The Company of Wolves find things I wasn't even looking for, I'd call it a derogatory phrase "crazy fantasy". (31/01/2012)

A considerably more morbid, perverse and extended version of Little Red Riding Hood. The classic fairy tale motifs are present and recognizable here – the mysterious forest hiding evil, the fearless and reckless main character, the wise and life-skilled grandmother who gives valuable advice for the next life through fairy tales, passes on life experience, etc. Neil Jordan already let me down in a big way with Interview with the Vampire, where despite the gorgeous sets, the great acting of the main characters, and a pretty decent atmosphere, the whole story was incredibly long and the direction was painfully bland and unimaginative. In the case of The Company of Wolves, both the direction and the script are of a decent standard, but when compared to any other work I like and simply enjoy, this film comes out as just a good average. Neil Jordan is the first "bigger" director that I haven't really clicked with from the start, but I'm going to see The Crying Game soon, so maybe I'll change my mind. (07/07/2011)

An artistically captivating excess that initially captivates the surprised viewer, but unfortunately, it eventually starts to give an overwrought impression. Even the formal storytelling approach in depicting the story of the wicked wolves, who don't really hunger but crave something else, isn't the best choice they could have made. The dreamlike scenes of a young girl, mixed with more and more stories that inevitably start to collide, push the viewer's confusion to the limit. Moreover, the non-restrained pace of the storytelling, where dialogues that are supposed to advance the plot are abruptly cut off to continue with the narration through scenery, and which not even Terry Gilliam's films would despise, somewhat schizophrenically confuses not only the viewer but also itself. The confused narrative playfulness, which calls for deeper exploration, evokes somewhat conflicting impressions in those who are not inclined to ponder deeply. Personally, it made me stand on my head. (25/11/2005)