Little Dead Rotting Hood – A Twisted Fairy Tale Drenched in Blood
Little Dead Rotting Hood is a horror reimagining of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, transforming the familiar story into a blood-soaked creature feature. Directed by Jared Cohn and released in 2016 by The Asylum — a studio known for its low-budget, high-concept horror and sci-fi — the film blends folklore with werewolf mythology in a campy, gruesome, and unexpectedly fun way. This isn’t the bedtime story you remember. It’s darker, meaner, and far more dangerous.
Set in a remote, wooded town, the film begins with the death of an elderly woman known to locals as the mysterious “Grandma Hood.” Unknown to most, Grandma Hood was the guardian of a dark secret — she protected the town from ancient, supernatural forces hiding deep in the forest. When she dies, that ancient evil is unleashed, and the town becomes the hunting ground for a monstrous werewolf. At the center of the chaos is her granddaughter, Red, who dies violently… only to return.
But Red doesn’t come back as the same innocent girl. She rises from the dead, transformed into something else — something powerful, vengeful, and undead. Now a supernatural entity herself, she must finish the fight her grandmother started and stop the growing werewolf threat before the entire town is torn to pieces. As the creature begins slaughtering townsfolk, local sheriff Adam and a few remaining survivors scramble to uncover the truth behind the legend of “Little Dead Rotting Hood” before it’s too late.
The title may suggest campy B-movie horror, and to a degree, that’s exactly what the film delivers — but it also surprises with moments of eerie atmosphere and genuine tension. The fog-drenched forests, the isolated cabins, and the transformation scenes all add a classic horror vibe that fans of creature features will appreciate. The werewolf design is fierce and feral, leaning more into monstrous than traditional lycanthropy, and the gore is plentiful, with practical effects that satisfy the genre’s bloodthirsty audience.
One of the film’s more interesting twists is the character of Red herself. No longer the helpless girl in a red cloak, she becomes a vengeful protector — part ghost, part warrior — driven by duty and a supernatural curse. This subversion of the fairy tale’s original themes creates a new kind of heroine: undead, relentless, and capable of standing against the monster that once stalked her family.
While Little Dead Rotting Hood does have its flaws — including stiff dialogue, uneven acting, and a sometimes confusing plot — it embraces its low-budget horror roots. It doesn’t aim for subtlety or prestige. Instead, it delivers pulpy horror entertainment with claws, teeth, and a wicked grin. The film knows what it is: a modern monster movie wrapped in fairy tale horror, meant for fans who love gore, myth, and mayhem.
In conclusion, Little Dead Rotting Hood is a twisted tale of resurrection, revenge, and monstrous terror. It's a horror remix of a childhood story turned nightmare — where the girl in the red hood doesn’t run from the wolf. She hunts it.
