Werewolf By Night (2022).
The Stage.
A handful of monster hunters gather to celebrate one of their fallen and to compete in a hunt for a magic stone.
The Review.
Marvel has put so much content out on Disney+ that for someone who’s pretty busy, it’s nearly impossible to keep up. I’ve seen Hawkeye, Captain America & Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and a little bit of What If?, but haven’t seen Moon Knight, She Hulk, or any of the other things they’ve released. It’s just a big time commitment. So when I heard about Werewolf By Night, I thought it sounded cool but I wasn’t ready to sink 6 or 7 hours into a new show. Imagine my surprise when I found out it wasn’t a series, but rather a true 53 minute television film!
Right off the bat, you can see that this film isn’t like anything Marvel has ever put on Disney+. For starters, it’s black and white. The film takes place at Bloodstone Manor, home of the now deceased Ulysses Bloodstone. Ulysses Bloodstone is an interesting deep cut from the Marvel catalogue as his publication history was a rocky one. He was introduced in 1975 in Marvel Presents and then was set to be included in the Where Monsters Dwell series, but that book was swiftly canceled. After that, the Bloodstone story was kind of…wrapped. Then he reappeared in The Rampaging Hulk in 1977, where he was killed. The character has made appearances here and there throughout the years, but was never had his own book. How fitting that when he made his MCU debut, he was already dead.
Several monster hunters congregate in the Bloodstone Manor crypt, a place filled with relics and decorated with the heads of fallen monsters adorned to the walls. Among the monster hunters are Jack Russell, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, the daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone, Elsa, Jovan, Azarel, Liorn, and Barasso. After a brief introduction to the night’s hunt, they’re let into a labyrinth to kill a wild beast for the chance to leave with the Bloodstone, an ancient artifact that grants the wielder special protections. Because of the power it contains, the monster isn’t the only thing they’ll need to content with…the power hungry monster hunters aren’t going to let anything…or anyone…get in their way. Of course, some of these monster hunters have secrets of their own.
I had a blast with Werewolf By Night. It’s directed by Michael Giacchino, composer for Jurassic World, The Batman, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Up, and many other Pixar films. If you’re worried about his lack of experience behind the camera, it’s understandable…but rest assured, this man knows what he’s doing. The film is shot wonderfully, featuring several scenes that are direct homages to the classic Universal monster movies and Hammer horror films. A scene in which one of the participants transforms into a werewolf was particularly impressive, as we see the shift happening in shadows against a wall. As expected, the music is great. The film is also much gorier than I expected coming from Marvel. Someone gets their hand cut off, an arrow goes up through someone’s chin, and there are a good amount of practical effects and blood, albeit black blood since it’s shot in black and white.
The End.
At only 53 minutes, I feel like I wanted more Werewolf By Night, but I really do love the shorter run time. It’s a breeze to watch and perfectly sets the tone for a spooky Halloween night. Keep your expectations in check, however, if you’re a Marvel fan who only wants to see the latest superheros flying around - this is not The Avengers. If you can appreciate old school, up all night horror films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, this film should be right up your alley. I highly recommend it.
