More than twenty years after its release, the board game of Werewolves from Thiercelieux is experiencing a huge resurgence of interest, as two adaptations compete on our screens: a Netflix film, with Franck Dubosc and Jean Reno, as well as a Canal+ series, imagined by comedians Panayotis Pascot and Fary. So which one should you watch?
“The village falls asleep and the werewolves wake up…” If you have ever participated in a holiday camp or are a fan of board games, you must have already heard this sweet phrase, uttered by a seasoned game master (or not), when you became a resident of Thiercelieux . In this month of October 2024, the game of Werewolveswhich has become a classic with more than 7 million copies sold worldwide, now takes two new forms on our screens.
If you are a little lost when it comes to the film put online on Netflix on October 23, and the series available on Canal+, and broadcast every Friday, here are 6 criteria to help you make your choice and watch the best part of Werewolves of your life.
History
On paper, what are the series and the film about? As for the first, it is a real part of the Werewolves of Thiercelieuxorganized with 13 participants, in the heart of a forest. The rules are generally simple: each player receives a secret card, which gives them a role, between Villager or lycanthrope, for a few days.
The mission of the Villagers? Unmask the traitors among them. The Werewolves, for their part, will have to avoid revealing their role at all costs, while devouring one of their fellow creatures every night. Quests also allow Villagers to unlock special powers, very useful in resisting the evil canines who wish them harm.
The film is a total fiction. The story then takes us alongside a blended family who goes back in time, to the Middle Ages, in the small village of… Thiercelieux. There, a quest awaits Franck Dubosc and his team, who will have to win a game of Werewolvesby finding the different lycanthropes hidden among the inhabitants, in order to return home and strengthen their bonds.
Who wins? In this aspect, it is difficult to separate the two. The idea of attending a real life-size game is necessarily enticing, while the prospect of finally being able to discover a Jumanji French style makes our mouths water. From the point of view of history, we can therefore agree on a double victory.
Le casting
The film produced by Netflix can boast of having brought together the cream of popular French cinema, with big names like Franck Dubosc (Camping), Jean Reno (Visitors), Suzanne Clément (Mommy), Jonathan Lambert (The Torch) or even Bruno Gouery (Emily in Paris).
THE WerewolvesCanal+ version, they relied on a casting of unknowns to participate in this famous giant game. Apart from the presence of the comedians Panayotis Pascot and Fary, who imagined the series and appear during short sequences, as well as the videographer Mister V, who does the voice-over, the 13 players are leaders in their field, more than stars. Journalist, poker player, language specialist, improvisation coach, former DGSE spy… The profiles complement each other perfectly during the game.
Who wins? If the casting of the Netflix film could make fans of French cinema dream, their presence in Werewolves ultimately turns out to be very disappointing. The actors and actresses seem very tired, unconvinced by the text they have to interpret. The victory therefore goes, hands down, to the Canal+ series, whose yet anonymous cast manages to captivate us, episode after episode.
Immersion and atmosphere
Part of Werewolves will always be much less interesting if the conditions are not met to make the game magical. A good game master, involved participants, even a small campfire or small candles can change everything. The series Werewolveson Canal+, understood this well and pulled out all the stops to immerse us in this life-size part. A village comprising 13 houses was thus set up in the middle of an immense forest. In the center, a large fire has been installed, to allow the Villagers and the Werewolves to gather together after dark.
The Netflix film can also count on high-quality sets and costumes, which easily immerse us in the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, the famous lycanthropes, created especially for the occasion, without any visual effects, clearly lack charisma and seem straight out of a bad film from the 1990s.
Who wins? Once again, even if the reconstruction of the Middle Ages is careful in the Werewolves Netflix version, we must still give victory to the Canal+ series, whose small wooden village brings a whole new dimension to the game.
Loyalty to the original game
Between a real game and a fiction inspired by Werewolves of Thiercelieuxit must be admitted that the choice is quick. The Canal+ series has thus perfectly integrated the rules, as well as the codes of the original game, to better twist them. These few changes ultimately bring even more spice to the whole, by adding special roles gradually for example, rather than from the start.
The Netflix film makes strange modifications to the different powers of the cards, such as a suddenly superhuman strength for the Hunter or a Clairvoyant now capable of reading minds. Only the role of the Witch is well done, but you have to wait until the very end of Werewolves to find out.
Who wins? The Canal+ series once again wins the duel in this category, offering a new look at the game of Werewolves as a whole (and making us furiously want to create our own giant game).
Humor and jokes
Revisiting Daniel Balavoine under another name, with Franck Dubosc as Daniel Baladin and his Baladettes: this is the promise of the Netflix film, by highlighting humor that is honestly rather dated, which no longer hits the mark at all. Only a running gag around an arrow was able to bring a few smiles to our faces, but in an hour and a half of film, it’s a little light.
On the side of Werewolves in Canal+ style, the jokes are much more biting. It must be said that the writing of Panayotis Pascot and Fary, accustomed to humor, mixed with the ironic voice of Mister V to narrate the episodes, forms a winning duo on screen.
Who wins? Without any hesitation, the Canal+ series is much funnier and fun to watch than the Netflix film, which suffers from frankly heavy writing.
L’aspect familial
Designed as a film respecting the friendly and family side of the original game, Werewolveson Netflix, actually keeps its bet. You can therefore watch the feature film with your children without fear, from around 8-10 years old, since no sequence belongs to the horror genre. Even the presence of the famous lycanthropes is not that frightening, and the film focuses on suspense, more than anxiety.
The Canal+ series is aimed at a more seasoned audience, at least young adults, since the majority of the action takes place in discussions between the players. A bias which therefore clearly does not target children, who could become bored.
Who wins? We must grant the Werewolves of Netflix at least one quality: that of addressing all generations. If you are looking to spend an evening with the family, we therefore recommend this film, rather than the more talkative Canal+ series.
Summary: between the Netflix film and the Canal+ series, which is the best version of the Werewolves ?
You will have understood it if you have read all the criteria of this comparison (well done and thank you!): the Canal+ series wins every time, or almost, against the Netflix film. Even with all the good will in the world, it is difficult to promote Werewolves by Franck Dubosc, which seem to come straight from a bygone era, while the version with Panayotis Pascot and Fary is, on the contrary, part of a much more pleasant modernity.
Whether you are a fan of the original board game or not, we strongly advise you to give the Canal+ lycanthropes a chance, who tick all the boxes for an excellent evening, by the fire, in good company.
Source: www.numerama.com
