Big Bad Wolves

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Navot Papushado directs. Giora Bejach behind the camera. Frank Ilfman scores. Asaf Korman cuts. Produced in Israel. Dialogue in Arabic, Hebrew, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 13 years ago.
• 2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Italian.
• 3Directed by Navot Papushado, shot by Giora Bejach. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Frank Ilfman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Asaf Korman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Lior Ashkenazi and Tzahi Grad and Rotem Keinan carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "Some men are created evil.".
• 8IMDB entry: tt2309224 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Giora Bejach

Original score

Frank Ilfman

Editing

Asaf Korman

Production design

Arad Sawat

Costume design

Michal Dor

Makeup / hair

Elinor Gigi Adoni

Sound

Ronen Nagel

Runtime

110 min · 1h 50m

Status

Released

Box office

$33,232

Original language

HE

Certification (US)

NR

IMDB

Big Bad Wolves (2013) ↗

Also by

Navot Papushado

• 
  Gunpowder Milkshake

  2021 · ★ 6.3
• 
  Rabies

  2010 · ★ 5.8
• 
  ABCs of Death 2

  2014 · ★ 5.4
• 
  Zeitgeist

  2007

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Thriller

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2015-08-26
  ★ 6.5/10

  Wolves in a pack hunting for a beast-sheep. The first thing I remembered was, 'Save the Green Planet', but it was a crime-thriller, not a fantasy-sci-fi. Tough guys in the leather jackets, guns in the one hand and cigars in the other, that's what I imagined when Tarantino favoured it. But this film was slightly not an aggressive like too violent. The screenplay was disturbed frequently when it begins to engage on the nervous side. Hence it makes you say 'just missed', sometime disappointedly. Anyway, no one told me it was a dark comedy, I took it as a surprise and somewhat enjoyed it. It was on the serious subject, but not the presentation. Keeps everything lightly, especially conceals the dark side of truth for the final twist. For us, as the viewers, the prediction is two ways, either 'he did' it or 'he didn't' like taking a side. Film length was good with a moderate pace. There's no place for the characters to unroll with the proper introductions, including not even the opening event on which the whole film stands. From the beginning itself the writer wanted to save it for the final revelation. That's not smart, that's afraid of leaving hints. "Maniacs are afraid of maniacs." Kind of similar to Hollywood's 'Prisoners'. Well, almost matches, except the characters and places. A good movie, but not that good. Well attempted, I am sure many would love this film. The narration is about kidnapping a guy on the suspicion of crime for a secret interrogation. It hauls in the remaining till advance to the crucial end part. In the mean time, the torturing techniques and the suspense hold our position. Because of Tarantino's nod, it's an easy 'go for it', well, mostly for his fanbase. I say consider it and decide yourself after the watch, don't believe, not even me. To me it was the great opportunity missed to dominate, especially having a powerful title and theme. Still, I don't reckon it is a bad or worst movie, but surely one of the year's top 50 or maybe 25. The movie was as I thought. The story and my anticipation were on the parallel track aiming the same direction. At least I was occupied, but the issue was, it did not go above my expectation to surprise me with some interesting elements. It flunks, like trying to fill the new wine in an old bottle with the old label and description in it. Stylish, but attempted to be too clever was the let down by the slimmest margin. On the other hand, as coming from the Israeli, it is exceptional. 6.5/10

  Read full review ↓
• badelf2023-01-22
  ★ 10/10

  Quentin Tarantino called this the best film of 2013 and it's easy to see why. It's very dark humor with an unpalatable subject, and with the same wry humor as QT. I found it brilliantly put together by the writer/directors and the acting is great. There is no character development which is clearly a choice to keep the audience at a safe distance from the heart of film. I find that to be a very creative choice that allows us to laugh instead of cry. If you're a QT fan, don't miss this gem.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• UN

  United Channel Movies

Key crew

• EditorAsaf Korman
• ProducerLeon Edery
• ProducerTami Leon
• ProducerChilik Michaeli
• ProducerAvraham Pirchi
• Line ProducerRoby Star
• CastingLimor Shmila
• Production DesignArad Sawat
• Costume DesignMichal Dor
• ProducerMoshe Edery
• Sound DesignerRonen Nagel
• Sound MixerDaniel Shitrit
• Sound MixerOni Elbar
• Key Makeup ArtistElinor Gigi Adoni
• First Assistant DirectorDoron Ofer
• Production ManagerMichal Vintrov
• Production CoordinatorGili Vax
• Second Assistant DirectorEyal Oberweger
• Set DresserYoram Shayer
• Graphic DesignerLee Saad
• Sound Re-Recording MixerRonen Nagel
• Sound Re-Recording MixerLee Zohar
• Still PhotographerRonen Goldman
• Still PhotographerYarden Tabori

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• husband wife relationship
• tel aviv, israel
• series of murders
• father son relationship
• mother son relationship
• avenging father
• cruel

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2013-05-04· Stanley Film Festival
• Premiere2013-04-21· Tribeca Film Festival
• Premiere2013-10-11· Chicago International Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)2014-01-17NR

Also known as

International titles

• Mi mefahed mezeev haraIL
• Who Is Afraid of the Bad Wolf?IL
• Большие Плохие ВолкиRU