The Pack (2010 film)
A horror film about a roadside eatery and a pack of cannibals.
Colin Brown from Silver Lake, CA, U.S.A · CC BY 2.0
The Pack (French: *La meute*) is a 2010 horror film that marks the feature debut of director, writer, and co-producer Franck Richard. The cast includes Yolande Moreau, Philippe Nahon, Émilie Dequenne, and Benjamin Biolay. The story follows Charlotte and Max, who stop at a rundown roadside restaurant. After Max vanishes, Charlotte returns at night to search for him and ends up trapped in a cage by the restaurant owner, who keeps a pack of cannibals. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2010 and had its North American debut at the Fantasia Festival. Critical reception has been generally mixed.
- director
- Franck Richard
- release_year
- 2010
- country
- France
- genre
- Horror
- premiere
- Cannes Film Festival, 15 May 2010
- North American premiere
- Fantasia Festival, 20 July 2010
Quick Facts
- Director
- Franck Richard
- Producer
- Verane Frediani / Franck Ribiere
- Starring
- Yolande Moreau / Benjamin Biolay / Émilie Dequenne / Philippe Nahon
- Music
- Chris Spencer / Ari Benjamin Meyers / Chris Spencer
- Cinematography
- Laurent Barès
- Editing
- Olivier Gajan
- Studio
- La Fabrique 2 / BE-FILMS / Motion Investment Group
- Distributor
- La Fabrique de Films
- Released
- df=y · 2010 · 5 · 15 · Cannes
- Runtime
- 86 minutes
- Country
- France / Belgium
- Language
- French
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Pack is the debut feature of director Franck Richard, who said he created the film because he had 'liked genre films ever since I was a child.' The plot follows Charlotte (Émilie Dequenne) and Max, a hitchhiker, who stop at La Spack, a rundown roadside eatery run by a woman (Yolande Moreau). After Max vanishes, Charlotte returns at nightfall to investigate and finds herself bound and caged, a prisoner of La Spack, who sees her as the next meal for her brood of ghouls. The cast also includes Philippe Nahon as Chinaski, a retired cop, and Benjamin Biolay as La Spack's son.
Reader's Guide
The Pack was originally slated for an outdoor screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2010, but the Classification Committee of the NCC halted the idea, not wanting the film to be seen by people under 16. It premiered for the press on 15 May and for the public on 17 May 2010. Icon bought the rights for the United Kingdom release, and the film was released as part of the Bloody Disgusting Selects line. Reception was mixed: Fangoria described it as a hybrid of Calvaire and Haute Tension, calling it 'one of the weakest in the past decade’s resurgence of French-language frights.' Variety noted it 'does fun things with its ranch-like setting, playful gore and creatures known as ghouls, yet it's too uproariously modeled on every late night classic under the sun to feel fresh.' Empire wrote a negative review, saying the creatures were 'far less entertaining than the game of guess-the-genre' in the first third. The film was nominated for a Magritte Award for Best Production Design in 2012.
Did You Know?
- The Pack is the debut feature of director Franck Richard.
- The film's North American premiere was at the Fantasia Festival on 20 July 2010.
- The Classification Committee of the NCC halted an outdoor screening at Cannes due to age restrictions.
- The film was nominated for a Magritte Award for Best Production Design in 2012.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed The Pack (2010)?
Franck Richard helmed the film, which also served as his feature-length directorial debut. He additionally wrote the screenplay and co-produced the project.
What is The Pack (2010) about?
The story centers on a couple, Charlotte and Max, who pull into a dilapidated roadside restaurant. When Max disappears, Charlotte returns after dark to look for him and discovers the owner has caged her alongside a group of cannibals.
Who is in the cast of The Pack (2010)?
The principal cast features Yolande Moreau, Philippe Nahon, Émilie Dequenne, and Benjamin Biolay.
Where did The Pack (2010) first screen?
It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2010, and later made its North American debut at the Fantasia Festival on 20 July 2010.
Why is The Pack (2010) notable?
The film is significant as the feature debut of Franck Richard, launching his career behind the camera. Its extreme premise—a woman trapped with a pack of cannibals in a remote eatery—gave it a cult following in the horror genre.
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