Chapter 3. A Korean Revenge Thriller in the Israeli Countryside: Big Bad Wolves
Big Bad Wolves (2013), the second feature by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado, rose to prominence after Tarantino called it the best film of the year. Big Bad Wolves is a wild ride, transgressing horror, thriller, and dark comedy. Fundamentally, it is a story of revenge gone wrong, when a vigilante father with a military past goes after a serial killer who murdered and dismembered his daughter. But it is also a satire of Israeli masculinity and nationalism.
Questions for discussion
- Which horror tropes and conventions can you identify in Big Bad Wolves? Which films does it remind you of?
- What characterizes Big Bad Wolves as an Israeli film? You may think of the plot, themes, or settings.
- What is the relationship between the local Israeli characteristics and the global horror tropes in Big Bad Wolves?
- What was the production history of Big Bad Wolves? How did it impact the film?
- What was its audience and critical reception?
Availability
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Tubi, and other platforms