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Werewolves (15)
Director: Steven C. Miller
Screenplay: Matthew Kennedy
Starring: Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Ilfenesh Hadera
Running time: 93 minutes
VOD
Review: RJ Bland
Over the past couple of years, the horror genre has witnessed several instances of a phenomenon known as “twin films.” These occur when two movies with strikingly similar plots or themes are released simultaneously by different studios and are typically unintentional, mere coincidences. For example, last year saw the release of Immaculate and The First Omen, both religious horrors set in convents, which premiered just days apart. Similarly, Infested and Sting, both centred on killer arachnids, shared a close release window. Back in 2023, The Exorcism and The Pope’s Exorcist hit theatres within weeks of each other. Now, barely into January, another case of cinematic doppelgängers has emerged.
Today (Jan 17th), Leigh Whannell’s highly anticipated Wolf Man will debut. A big-budget Blumhouse adaptation and a reboot of the 1941 classic The Wolf Man, the film stars Julia Garner and carries high expectations following Whannell’s successful revival of The Invisible Man. For other werewolf films releasing around this time, the challenge lies in standing out. Audiences aren’t often eager to watch two strikingly similar films in quick succession. Fortunately, Steven C. Miller’s Werewolves offers a refreshing alternative: a low-budget, high-concept film with the charm of a classic monster B-movie.
Set in the near future, the world is grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic global event. No, it’s not an asteroid or a tsunami or a global pandemic. Or anything to do with Elon Musk. A year earlier, a supermoon triggered dormant genetic traits, causing approximately one in six people to transform into werewolves - for a single night. As another supermoon approaches, panic ensues. While people barricade their homes and arm themselves, a Global Rapid Response team races to finalise an antidote called “moonscreen” to prevent the transformations. Among them is Wesley (Frank Grillo), a molecular biologist striving to save humanity while protecting his late brother’s widow Lucy (Ilfanesh Hadera) and young niece (Kamdynn Gary). As Wesley and his team work against the clock, his family braces for a night fraught with danger. But when a critical failure occurs at the lab, the consequences are catastrophic for everyone involved.
A film starring Frank Grillo with a plot centered on a carnage-filled annual event might prompt some to label it as "The Purge with werewolves"—and let’s be honest, that sounds pretty compelling. To be fair, this description aptly captures the essence of Werewolves, directed by Steven C. Miller. The film is as direct in its execution as its unembellished title suggests.
Werewolf movies tend to be less prevalent than their vampiric or zombified counterparts, largely due to the challenges of creating convincing werewolf effects. The risk of ending up with either a CGI disaster or a clunky latex-suited figure often deters filmmakers. So it’s always a treat to see a werewolf movie - especially one that promises not just a single lycanthrope, but an entire pack. This kind of audacious sci-fi concept is reminiscent of the creature features of the 1950s and ’60s, which thrived on over-the-top premises. Oh you want a film about a killer spider? Well how about one that’s the size of a house?! These films lured people in with their tantalisingly absurd storylines with their potential for chaos but more often than not failed to live up to those expectations.
Fortunately, Werewolves largely delivers on its premise. Surprisingly for a film with such a playful concept, it takes itself quite seriously. It avoids self-aware humour and eschews tongue-in-cheek one-liners, which may disappoint viewers seeking a light-hearted monster romp. Instead, the film leans into its narrative with sincerity, treating its concept with unexpected gravitas. This earnest tone feels charmingly reminiscent of classic high-concept B-movies, which often approached their fantastical premises with a straight face.
While the core idea is intriguing, Werewolves doesn’t break new ground in terms of plot. Budget constraints also limit the extent to which the film can explore its world, and the climax undermines its own established rules, which may frustrate some viewers. And for some reason, a decision has been made to use lens flare like it’s going out of fashion, especially in the first 30 minutes. It becomes a little distracting.
That said, the film’s shortcomings are mitigated by Frank Grillo’s magnetic presence. Grillo is endlessly watchable, elevating the material with his performance and he’s supported by a capable cast, including Ilfanesh Hadera and Katrina Law, ensuring a consistent level of quality throughout. Most crucially, Miller and FX whizz Alec Gillis succeed where it truly matters: the werewolves. These creatures are big, menacing, and largely practical, evoking those terrifying man-beasts from Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers.
While Werewolves doesn’t rank among the elite of the subgenre, it’s an efficiently entertaining experience and fans of high-energy creature features will likely find it a satisfying addition to the werewolf movie canon.