Original script compared with final film (SPOILERS)
The film, as flawed as it is, is now one of my favourites. I loved the whole "fairy-tale thriller" vibe to it, and, unlike anyone else, I didn't see any explicit similarities between this and Twilight, apart from a few shots of woods and a little bit of the romance. I didn't see any "crap acting" or "bad directing". But, when comparing the finished film with the original script, it sure is disappointing alright.
Re-reading the first revision draft of the screenplay (the one that got leaked a year before the film's release) and reading the script of the finished film from the book "Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen", I was instantly dumbstruck. The original screenplay featured more interaction between the characters, and it was way more detailed and didn't have a bag of unexplained questions/plot holes.
For instance, the original script didn't feel rushed at all, unlike the final script. The filmmakers might have worried about time constrains, but they didn't have to press everything together. It developed smoothly, unhurriedly, but still keeping us in tension. Also, many scenes were cut from the final script, small scenes that helped us get a little more into the character's minds.
There were blood and guts, among other things, and a filmed version of this script would definitely be garnered a hard 'R' rating. The said paranoia that sweeps the village is more intense in the script. You know, characters turning against each other, turning against people they knew their whole life, against people they had a different opinion about them before Solomon came and totally brainwashed them. Also, how the villagers turn against Claude and Valerie/Isabelle (Valerie's original name) is more severe. For the final film, everything was trimmed for the time constrains.
The original script was a little more complex as to the character's relationships. E.g. the heated relationship between Roxanne, Claude and their prostitute mother, Marguerite. In the final script, Marguerite is present but she has only a couple of lines (and only one in the actual finished film), she's never addressed by her name and she's never referred to as the mother of Roxanne and Claude. Also, the original screenplay explored the relationship between Valerie and her girlfriends. Nothing too much, but at least we know that Rosemaria (original name for Rose) is jealous/envious of Valerie, that the other girls don't mind Roxanne much and sometimes make fun of her expense, and that Prudence is the more constrained, serious one. Also, there's more to the relationship between Valerie and her sister, Lucie.
These and many other relationships of other characters are merely touched up the final film.
The original screenplay was way more realistic and had a historical setting.
Plus, the original screenplay was a lot more interesting. There were several scenes in which Father Solomon explained some pretty cool (and very original) werewolf lore, along with other supernatural lore, witch-hunting beliefs of his and perceptions of other character's actions, which made him sound more insane, and also featured the history and background of the town, as well as the town's past with the Wolf, who was originally Cesaire's father, until he died and Cesaire took over.
In addition, during Cesaire's confession scene, in the script, he went on how he managed to get away with it every single full moon night, so deleting this part out would leave plot holes behind it.
Also, how Valerie is torn between the decision of going with the Wolf or staying at the village is touched upon more in the script. Basically, all the characters in the script are much more realistic, both in the way they speak and the way the act/react.
The dialogue and lines in the original screenplay were much, much better compared to the final script/film. The dialogue and lines in the latter were sometimes too corny and simple, while the ones in the original script were much more intricate, realistic and well-written. Much of these lines/dialogue were unfortunately cut from the film or simplified and changed for the final film. Why they did this is beyond me.
One glaring example is the original conversation between the Wolf and Valerie, when they first meet. (NOTE: Valerie's original name was Isabelle, as said above)
**Original conversation** (exact copy of the script)
Wolf: Well, well. You look very pretty this evening, my dear. Good enough to eat.
The Wolf's voice is sonorous, seductive. The Devil's voice. Isabelle stammers, unable to believe her senses.
Wolf: It's considered polite to thank someone when they pay you a compliment. Are you being impolite, Isabelle?
Isabelle: How do you know me? Who are you?
[....]
Isabelle: What big eyes you have...
Wolf: The better to see you with, my dear.
Isabelle: Are you going to kill us?
Wolf: Kill you? Why would I kill you?
Isabelle: Then what do you want?
Wolf: I want you, Isabelle.
**Conversation in the final film**
Wolf: (scary voice) You can't escape from me!!
Valerie: Oh my God! You can speak!! How??
Wolf: You understand me, that's all that matters, Valerie.
Valerie: You know my name...!!
Compare.
P.S. Those who want to read the first revision script I'm talking about, you can download it from MyPDFScripts:
http://www.mypdfscripts.com/screenplays/red-riding-hood
And here's a review of the script that came out before the film's release:
http://www.mypdfscripts.com/scriptreviews/kevin-jackson-reviews-the-gi rl-with-the-red-riding-hood