The reimagining of an old and popular fairy tale, “Red Riding Hood” is an odd romance-monster whodunit that will probably appeal to the younger “Twilight” movie-loving set. Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) isn’t a little girl, but a pretty young woman torn between two smoldering young men (Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons).
The love triangle is further complicated by the idea that one of the suitors may well be the werewolf terrorizing the village. A monster-hunter (Gary Oldman) arrives and begins ferreting out suspicious characters, which doesn’t stop the creature from rampaging again.
The mystery of the werewolf’s identity does keep the audience guessing. From the town weirdo to Valerie’s grandmother (Julie Christie), almost everyone is a suspect. There are red herrings aplenty, and the clues are placed quite strategically, so the revelation actually makes sense.
But like the artificial love connections in the story, the puzzle itself doesn’t keep you emotionally invested. There aren’t truly likeable persons in the menaced town, Red Riding Hood included. The stylish storytelling, characterized by showy visuals and blaring music, hardly leaves room for mood and suspense.
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