Time of the Wolf

So far, this is the weakest Haneke film I've seen. Unlikable characters navigate their dull struggles in an uninteresting post-apocalyptic world, occasionally engaging in tedious philosophical debates. I can't fathom why Haneke felt the need to make this. From a filmmaker of his caliber, I expected that if he ventured into this genre, he would bring something truly unique to the table. If his goal was to create an anti-sci-fi film, as I've heard, he definitely missed the mark. Comparing this to Tarkovsky’s Solaris, where space sci-fi is used to explore profound themes, the disparity is glaring. Tarkovsky managed to transcend genre boundaries – even if he claimed otherwise – and crafted something exceptional. He achieved this even more effectively in Stalker. Haneke’s Time of the Wolf doesn’t measure up; it contains some of his signature elements but ultimately fails to stand out in the post-apocalyptic genre. It ends up being just another ordinary entry, which is a huge missed opportunity for Haneke. A "post-apocalyptic film by Michael Haneke" sounds tantalizing on paper, but the final product feels like an undercooked, mediocre dish. I've seen far better post-apocalyptic films from much lesser directors. But hey, even the best make mistakes, and I forgive this misstep from the master. (08/04/2019)