Werewolf Movies

Blood & Chocolate is a 2007 film directed by Katja von Garnier, produced by Lakeshore Entertainment and distributed by MGM. It is very loosely based on the eponymous young-adult novel of the same name by Annette Curtis Klause, which was adapted into a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The movie was released on DVD on June 13, 2007 in the USA.

Vivian’s lycanthropic family was killed in America 10 years ago when she was 9 years old, after which she moved back to Bucharest, Romania to live with her aunt Astrid. Astrid is a former mate of the pack’s leader, Gabriel, and together they have a son named Rafe. According to pack law, the leader chooses a new mate every seven years. The choosing is a few months away and Gabriel wants Vivian as his mate, despite her reluctance. This is because of a prophecy which states that a female loup-garoux from the line of leaders will someday lead all loup-garoux into the age of hope. Gabriel thinks this loup-garoux will be Vivian, and for this reason he has chosen her for his “bride”.

While sitting one night in an abandoned church that celebrated the loup-garoux (having broken into it) she meets a human, Aiden, who is an artist (who also broke into the church for inspiration for his graphic novel series) researching the legend of the loup-garoux/or garouxone. Aiden is instantly smitten and pursues her for several days before she finally agrees to start seeing him. They meet in secret and fall in love. They are soon discovered by Vivian’s cousin Rafe and his four friends, who grew up with Vivian; throughout the movie Rafe and his friends are referred to as the Five. After Rafe tells Gabriel about the relationship, he orders Rafe to do whatever is necessary to get Aiden out of the city- even if it means death threats and bribing.

Rafe sends Aiden a note, pretending it is from Vivian and asking him to meet her in a chapel outside the city. After Rafe threatens him, Aiden throws him into the table where he cuts himself. Rafe’s spilling of blood forces his eyes to turn gold and reveal his loup-garoux side. He attempts to kill Aiden, however silver is fatal to the loup-garoux and can poison them when mixes with their blood (fire is the only other way to kill them). Aiden uses his silver medallion necklace to kill Rafe, in self-defense. (Aiden was trained by his “addicted, Army Ranger father” in self-defense, which obviously comes in handy.)

Gabriel and Astrid are devastated at the death of their son, and Aiden is caught by other loup-garoux at the train station (presumably to leave the country). Every month at full moon, the pack leads a hunt in the forest. The human prey is chosen because they are a danger to the pack or because they’ve offended one of its members (the first victim witnessed is a drug dealer). If the human manages to cross the river in the forest, they’re allowed to live, but no one has ever managed to reach the river. Aiden is chosen to be that moon cycle’s prey because he killed Rafe and he runs for his life. He cleverly spreads his blood around on the trees to confuse the hunting loup-garoux and buy some time (at the beginning of the “hunt” the prey is cut so that there is a blood scent to track). Fortunately, he’d stolen a silver knife from a restaurant earlier, and when two wolves corner him he is able to defend himself. He reaches the river and with great difficulty crosses it, however Gabriel is furious and breaks his own law, he follows Aiden and attacks. Vivian jumps in and she and Gabriel fight in their wolf forms; Vivian wins by pushing him into the river. Aiden attacks her, not recognizing her in her wolf skin, and slashes her arm with the knife. When she changes back into her human self she reveals who she is, he is stricken with guilt and is eager to help her.

They flee to a building where films were once processed, because it is riddled with silver dust the loup-garoux would not dare enter to find them. After a few tender moments Astrid appears. Realizing where Vivian had gone, she confronts them with a gun. Vivian pleads for Aiden’s life, reminding Astrid of how important it is to be with someone you love, and Astrid (who is in love with Gabriel even though he no longer wants her for his mate) lets them free. They retrieve an antidote for Vivian by threatening a human pharmacist who is owned by Gabriel, but the man manages to alert the pack to their presence. Vivian fights to protect Aiden but she is captured.

In the wolves’ territory (a bar that is frequented by the pack), Gabriel decides that he and Vivian shall hunt (each other), but Aiden – watching from a skylight above) shoots him. A few of Gabriel’s hitmen shoot him down into the building and a massive fight begins. During the shooting, several kegs and bottles of alcohol (Absinthe) shatter and their contents spill onto the floor and Aiden sets the building on fire. Gabriel attacks Aiden but before he can strike a possibly fatal blow, Vivian aims a gun at Gabriel. He insults her by telling her how she is becoming that hunter on that snowy night and kill on of her family. Gabriel shifts into his wolf form and faces Vivian. Aiden pleads with Vivian to shoot Gabriel, to which she replies many times, “I can’t.” When Gabriel goes to attack Aiden, Vivian shoots him. Vivian feels guilty for having killed Gabriel, as a tear rolls down her cheek and she strokes Gabriel’s fur. She helps the other loup-garou who had been chasing her, escape from the fire and she and Aiden run away together.

The last scene is of them sitting in Gabriel’s car and driving out of the city, as they drive, several people in the streets show their throats (as submissive wolves do) to the car (either because they believe it is Gabriel, or because Vivian is now the pack leader having killed Gabriel). They discuss a trip to Paris, as the film closes with them driving under Bucharest’s Arcul de Triumf (modeled after Paris’ Arc de Triomphe).