From the opening scene it's clear that we're dealing with a superbly directed, well-produced, well-written thriller. Despite an assumed modest budget, every aspect of this film is first class.
It starts with a very smart script, written by someone with above average knowledge about WW2, including the unique political landscape in Poland following the war. Like "Inglorious Basterds", this is a slice of alternative history, but less frivolous, told with a smaller budget but more compelling authenticity.
The cast is uniformly excellent and appealing. Charlotte Vega is both convincing and adorable as a Soviet officer leading a Russian squad on a secret mission. Nazi officers and "werewolf" guerillas are determined to thwart the mission, while some Polish peasants and partisans are caught in the middle, not happy to have either sets of "guests" in their country.
The production values are topnotch. The cinematography and period details are outstanding.
The costumes, right down to the proper fabric, are far above the usual for an indie war film.
The "werewolves" are obviously what cause the confusion about this being a horror film. The term refers to the real historical unit of Hitler youth and diehard Nazi sympathers formed with the intention of carrying on the war after Germany's surrender. Depicted in the film wearing animal skins to terrify the local peasantry, this apparently confused some less observant reviewers - who also missed the dialog explaining this in the movie.
If you're in the mood for a taut, fast-moving story and gritty hand-to-hand combat and realistic shoot-outs, you won't be disappointed.
It starts with a very smart script, written by someone with above average knowledge about WW2, including the unique political landscape in Poland following the war. Like "Inglorious Basterds", this is a slice of alternative history, but less frivolous, told with a smaller budget but more compelling authenticity.
The cast is uniformly excellent and appealing. Charlotte Vega is both convincing and adorable as a Soviet officer leading a Russian squad on a secret mission. Nazi officers and "werewolf" guerillas are determined to thwart the mission, while some Polish peasants and partisans are caught in the middle, not happy to have either sets of "guests" in their country.
The production values are topnotch. The cinematography and period details are outstanding.
The costumes, right down to the proper fabric, are far above the usual for an indie war film.
The "werewolves" are obviously what cause the confusion about this being a horror film. The term refers to the real historical unit of Hitler youth and diehard Nazi sympathers formed with the intention of carrying on the war after Germany's surrender. Depicted in the film wearing animal skins to terrify the local peasantry, this apparently confused some less observant reviewers - who also missed the dialog explaining this in the movie.
If you're in the mood for a taut, fast-moving story and gritty hand-to-hand combat and realistic shoot-outs, you won't be disappointed.