Werewolf By Night
Master Bloodstone has looked better in Marvel's Werewolf by Night.
Marvel howls into horror with this sublime monster movie send-up.
At Bloodstone Temple, a secret order of monster hunters arrives to pay their respects. Their leader has died and it’s time to choose a new hunter to wield the Bloodstone, a powerful gem that weakens or obliterates monsters. Among the group is Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), who was the heir to the Bloodstone until she ran away from her family nearly a decade ago.
The hunters are told they must fight for the top spot. They will be released into a grand garden, where they will hunt a monster unlike any they have ever encountered. If they wish the stone, they must kill the monster and possibly each other.
Let the games begin.
Clocking in at only 52 minutes, it seems silly to call Werewolf by Night my favorite Marvel movie, but I’m going to. Prolific composer Michael Giacchino takes a break from scoring blockbusters (you’ve heard his work in The Batman, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Lightyear to name a few) to try his hand at directing. The results are a salute to 30s and 40s horror movies that will surely have every movie buff clamoring for more. This is exactly the type of movie Elvira would have introduced on late night TV, starring Vincent Price. If that immediately got your attention, cancel your Friday plans and stay home for this.
Giacchino clearly loves the Universal Horror aesthetic. He draws inspiration from The Wolfman in particular in both design of the creature and the shadowy black and white cinematography. He utilizes long shadows and an expansive sets to ratchet up the period horror aesthetic, crafting a gorgeous little set piece that combines classic horror and camp.
It helps that Giacchino has a brilliant cast to work with. All the hunters have distinct, interesting looks. Donnelly has a classic femme fatale look and a wry Bette Davis delivery that makes her the perfect choice for the lead. Gael García Bernal offers a sweet star turn as Jack, a hunter with a mysterious past. But the true standout in the cast is Harriet Sansom Harris as the venomous Verusa. She snarls her way through her scenes, chewing more scenery than any monster could hope to gnash. It’s a grand performance and one truly worthy of the high drama of classic horror.
This isn’t Marvel’s first foray into horror. The comics have long run lines of scary comic series, featuring werewolves and creepy creatures. A few of these comic book creatures show up in Werewolf by Night (which is the name of a comic run in the 1970s). Don’t worry, it’s not Morbius, Marvel wouldn’t do anything that horrifying to its fans.
While Werewolf by Night is certainly playing for camp, it is a bit more violent than typical Marvel productions. If you’ve got a little one eager to see Marvel’s scary movie, consider whether or not they’re ready to see an arm lopped off or blood spurting right at camera. It’s not quite Deadpool but it may be something you want to consider. The black and white motif lessens the gore a bit, but it’s certainly not the typical bloodless clashes you see in most of the company’s properties.
Though Werewolf by Night is not technically part of the MCU (yet), this special presentation also gives me hope for the future of Marvel. This sort of creative experimenting with the properties should be encouraged. Hopefully, Feige greenlights more of these excellent “special presentations” so directors and creative can stretch beyond superheroes when adapting comics.
Verdict: If you grew up watching Universal Horror movies or pouring over Marvel’s Jack Russell comics, this movie will be a thrill. If you’ve never watched a werewolf movie, give this one a try — it’ll probably get you into the genre.
Werewolf by Night is rated TV-14 and is available on Disney+ October 7
