Werewolf By Night is a love letter to classic monster horror films with a little bit of Marvel sprinkled in — and it is fantastic.
Marvel Studios has just completely stepped outside of the box and gave fans something totally new. Werewolf By Night is the first (hopefully of many) Marvel Special Presentation and it is absolutely a lot letter to the horror movies of old — with just a little bit of Marvel sprinkled in for good measure. Very reminiscent of classic monster movies, all the way down to the pops and bubbles of the “film”, this movie is nothing short of special.
Werewolf By Night tells the story of a group of monster hunters who wish to carry on Ulysses Bloodstone’s legacy after his passing. In order to do so they must track down and kill a monster that has the bloodstone attached to it. Once they do so, they can claim the stone for themselves. What follows is a wonderful ode to monster movies that will have horror (and classic film) buffs grinning from ear to ear.
The most brilliant thing about this movie is the fact that it feels as if it was filmed in the 1930s or 1940s, but is somehow just being released now. It is shot almost completely in black and white and the score has that same eerie feel that any classic film fan will recognize. The directing and cinematography style only further this by providing jump scares and close up face shots.
Werewolf By Night even goes so far as to make it look like the film is old and has been exposed to the elements with pops and distorting around the corners at times. Michael Giacchino is an extremely talented composer, but for this movie he also steps into the director role. It is clear that he has a passion for monster movies, and he puts his heart and soul into expressing that in this film.
This is a Marvel movie though and while it is not exactly clear where in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this fits, if at all, it does have quite a few references to the Marvel world. This is mostly comprised of popular older comic book characters — ones that have been around for a long time. Some are surprising additions that will have fans cheering and clapping when they appear.
The story itself is intriguing and entertaining. Enough to keep viewers on the edge of their seats the whole way through. For those who don’t know much about these new-to-the-MCU characters, chances are they will be digging into the comic lore as soon as the film ends.
Being only 52 minutes, including credits, keeps Werewolf By Night moving at a great pace. It all but flies by thanks to the captivating plot, the fight sequences, and the uniqueness of it all. It is a tad predictable, but that is on par with the majority of classic horror films. Don’t worry though, there are still several fun twists and turns weaved in. There is so much to love about this movie, and the best part is it is such a new experience for Marvel fans.
There is a bit of dark humor mixed in, and the fight sequences see a lot of blood spewed, but it doesn’t feel like the Marvel we have grown accustomed to. The style is completely different, and should be welcomed with open arms.
For viewers who love the classic monster movies, and are avid Svengoolie watchers, you are sure to be absolutely thrilled with the way Werewolf By Night turned out. It feels exactly like an older film with just a bit of a Marvel twist. So do you need to know anything about Marvel to understand and enjoy this movie? Absolutely not, and that is the beauty of it all.
This is a massive risk that Marvel is taking, right smack in the middle of Phase 4 (which fans still don’t know which direction it is going in), but this is a wonderful way to pull in a new audience.
Even though there are a slew of Marvel characters we have yet to see in the MCU in Werewolf By Night, it isn’t clear if this is a standalone, will connect to the greater MCU, or will have multiple Special Presentation films doing their own thing. Either way, we want more. So much more.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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About Werewolf By Night
On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic — a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
Inspired by horror films of the 1930s and 1940s, the chilling special aims to evoke a sense of dread and the macabre, with plenty of suspense and scares along the way as we explore a new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Werewolf By Night streams exclusively on Disney+ October 7th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.