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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Big Bad Wolf remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an itch for old-school, rubber-hose animation where everyone is constantly dancing or running in place, then The Big Bad Wolf is a perfect ten-minute break. People who hate repetitive gags or singing animals should probably stay far, far away.
It’s honestly kind of a trip. You’ve got Red Riding Hood just trying to be a decent granddaughter, but she’s joined by these two pigs who seem to have absolutely no survival instinct whatsoever.
The pacing is… well, it’s frantic. It reminds me a bit of the chaos found in Outwitted, where things just happen because the animator felt like drawing them.
There’s a moment where they are taking a shortcut through the woods, and I’m just thinking, why are we trusting these pigs? They seem more interested in playing tunes than avoiding a predator who clearly wants to eat them.
The animation style is so bouncy it almost makes you dizzy. It’s like the characters are made of jelly and bad intentions. It doesn't have the heavy, serious tone you might see in something like The Somme, and thank goodness for that. It’s just pure, unadulterated cartoon madness.
I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it’s definitely not boring. If you’ve got a rainy afternoon and want to watch something that feels like it was sketched by someone fueled entirely by coffee and sugar, give it a whirl. Just don't ask too many questions about why the pigs are wearing clothes. 🐷🐺