Review of Red Riding Hood (2011) by Shiira — 24 Mar 2011

From the maker of "Thirteen", the 2003 film that depicts the accelerated speed in which kids are growing up in today's society, now comes "Red Riding Hood", the latest retelling of the ancient faerie tale made famous by The Brothers Grimm(known as "Rottkappchen") that shows how young medieval wenches from yore were no chaste angels either.

Billed as a reworking of the popular "Twilight Saga", the film's theme of a young girl's lost innocence aligns itself equally well with the Larry Clark-lite indie, since in the recent "Eclipse", Bella(Kristen Stewart) keeps her virginity, whereas Valerie(Amanda Seyfried) gives it away quite freely for a nineteenth century chick.

Starring Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter, "Thirteen" examines the ramifications of a mother who tries too hard to be her daughter's contemporary. In one scene, set at a high-end Melrose clothing boutique, Tracey emerges from the changing room outfitted in garb more suitable for a bar than middle school.

Most mothers would throw a fit, but Melanie, a former flower child, wanting to be "the hot big sister" that Evie(Nikki Reed) labels her as, endorses the tight-fitting ensemble by remarking, "You look incredible.

" In effect, encouraging her little girl to flaunt her wares around boys through coquettish behavior. Similarly, in "Red Riding Hood", Valerie, who had previously looked as if she were a Renaissance fair fashion victim, accepts the scintillating red cloak from her proto-hippie grandmother(Julie Christie), who all but encourages the young lass to dress provocatively and to engage in sexual activities by warning the newly-ordained Red Riding Hood to be "careful".

She makes for an equally poor role model as Valerie's mother, who gave birth to a love child, her half-sister Lucy. Betrothed to a wealthy blacksmith, Valerie still possesses some unresolved feelings towards a lowly woodcutter, who should have been the original wolf instead of a red herring, since the final plot twist creates some unintended sexual tension among family members.

The red cloak, originally intended as a wedding present to be worn on the night she was supposed to consummate her nuptials with Henry(Max Irons), the sexually-charged garment instead is utilized as a means to seduce Peter(Shiloh Fernandez) in a premarital fling, thereby spoiling the girl's chances for gainful holy matrimony.

Valerie ends up living in the forest as an outcast, cohabitating with an animal outside the sanctity of marriage.