Movie Review: Cub (2015, Artsploitation)

Review By: James DePaolo

Artsploitation Films has to be one of the best indie labels out there right now. They have put out some horror films (among other genres) that have really changed the perception the average fan would have of horror and the boundaries of what is acceptable and controversial. I am in the majority that thinks French horror should be credited with some of the most vicious and satisfying horror films I have ever seen. Jonas Govaerts debut Cub really keeps my faith in the French strong.

What on the surface sounds like a standard horror films of watching a group of cub scouts head into the unknown wilderness for an adventure, it turns into something all-together different as the film rolls on. The cubs find themselves in the middle of some kind of killing grounds of a psychopath. To add to their dilemma, there is also a young mask wearing psychopath in the woods as well. We meet Sam who is a disturbed and troubled lad who is treated differently by others. Some of the scouts and at times the scout leaders pick on him and one in particular named Baloo is cruel to him. We watch in one instance that Baloo sets his dog on Sam for his kicks. Like all camping films, we get the scary stories and this time it is about a werewolf boy named Kai.

Who Sam is convinced he has seen but he was made fun of when he tried to tell people and warn them. Cub soars for the simple fact that it had so much thought put into it, it wanted to be the anti to the normal and it succeeded. It has characters that are multi-dimensional and a story that all of us can get behind. The central protagonist that we can all invest in and a story we want to examine and watch unfold in front of us. The script was very well written, and while at times it does seem a little far-fetched, it has so much passion and energy that you seem to really not mind. I loved the fact that this story was constantly changing and in fear of spoiling some key plot points I will say, that the way this story unfolds is really interesting and different.

I feel that this cements the fact that the French Revolution in film is no fluke. My only regret is that I pray no one in America decides to give this a remake or Americanize it for release by some major company for PG 13 fan-bases. This film is that special film that once you watch it, you have to brag to a friend or whoever to see this film.