Story
This version of the well-known Red Riding Hood story is set in a small medieval village. Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) and Peter (Shiloh Fernandez) are in love, but Valerie’s parents have arranged for her to marry Henry (Max Irons). Henry’s the well-off son of the village blacksmith. Valerie and Peter plan to run away, but their plans are ruined when Valerie’s sister is killed by the local werewolf.
For years the villagers have maintained a truce with the werewolf by offering an animal sacrifice each full moon. But now the werewolf has broken the truce by killing Valerie’s sister. Outraged by the murder, the villagers go off to hunt down the werewolf. They kill what they think is it, but village priest Father Auguste (Lukas Haas) has called in famed werewolf hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman). Father Solomon announces that the villagers have killed just an ordinary wolf. The real werewolf takes on human form by day and could be any one of them.
The werewolf then attacks the village and confronts Valerie. She finds that she can hear the wolf’s thoughts. This is just the beginning of her struggles.
Themes
The supernatural; werewolves; torture
Violence
This movie has some violence. For example:
Sexual references
This movie has some sexual references. For example:
- Valerie’s marriage has been arranged, and her mother wants money in return for Valerie.
- Peter tells Valerie that he doesn’t want to marry her anymore. He says, ‘We had some fun, that’s all it was’.
- Valerie’s mother tells Valerie that before she married Valerie’s father, she had an affair with another man. Valerie’s older sister was a result of that affair. Valerie’s father doesn’t know this.
- Peter flirts with a young woman. Characters talk about the woman being Peter’s new conquest. Peter tells Valerie, ‘I don’t have to like her to get what I want from her’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie has some use of substances. For example:
- Throughout the movie, Valerie’s father drinks from a leather flask. He seems drunk several times.
- Several scenes show a large group of people drinking in the local tavern.
- At an outdoor party, men and woman drink so much they get drunk.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- During a party, a drunken man pretends to make sexual thrusts while bending over a second man who is lying unconscious on the ground.
- During a party Peter dances in a sensual way with a young woman. Valerie dances in a similar way with a young woman.
- Peter and Valerie kiss each other passionately on the lips. Valerie wraps her legs around Peter, and he carries her into a barn. They lie on the ground with Peter on top. They kiss passionately and breathe heavily. Peter begins to untie the laces on Valerie’s scoop-necked bodice, but then they’re interrupted.
- A young woman offers herself to Father Solomon in exchange for Father Solomon releasing her brother from prison.
- Father Solomon caresses Valerie’s back in a suggestive way.
- In a dream-like scene, Peter lies on top of Valerie on her red cloak. Their bare shoulders suggest that Peter and Valerie are naked.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
This movie has occasional put-downs and name-calling.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Red Riding Hood is a fantasy romance with elements of horror. It seems to be aimed at a teenage audience. It is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed the Twilight movies. Like the Twilight movies, this movie has a gothic feel, a story involving a love triangle, and a strong supernatural element.
The main message from this movie is that love is worth risking everything for, regardless of the consequences or the cost to others. You might feel that this is a negative message for children and teenagers.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with older children include courage and selflessness. For example, Peter repeatedly shows courage and selflessness as he protects Valerie from both the werewolf and Father Solomon. He eventually pays the ultimate cost for his acts of bravery when he is bitten by the werewolf and cursed for life.
You might also want to talk about Father Solomon’s behaviour and his justification for torturing a boy with intellectual disabilities.