THE STORY – A supermoon event triggered a latent gene in every human on the planet, causing anyone exposed to the moonlight to transform into werewolves killing millions overnight. A year later, the world attempts to prepare for another supermoon.
THE CAST – Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Ilfenesh Hadera, James Michael Cummings, Lou Diamond Phillips, James Kyson & Kamdynn Gary
THE TEAM – Steven C. Miller (Director) & Matthew Kennedy (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 94 Minutes
If a movie is called “Werewolves,” there’s no room for doubt that it will be full of lycanthropic creatures. Too many stories about fantastical monsters spend far too much time debating and questioning the fact that such otherworldly creatures are real in the film’s world (see this year’s “Abigail“ for a perfect example). “Werewolves“ does no such thing. It smartly opens with a title card explaining the stakes of the world in a hilariously unambiguous fashion. A year before the film’s events, a supermoon unlocked a hidden gene in one billion humans, turning them into humanoid wolves. Now, the supermoon approaches again, and the people of Earth are ready…or so they think. “Werewolves“ knows precisely what type of movie it is: A schlocky, somewhat silly (no matter how seriously it takes itself), action-packed story for audiences as hungry for blood as the titular creatures themselves. What it lacks in creativity in the action scenes, it makes up for in the blunt, grounded approach it takes, leading to an ending that can only be described as badass.
Our hero leading the charge against the lunar-loving beasts is Wesley Marshall (Frank Grillo). He’s become something of a guardian to his late brother’s wife, Lucy (an effectively emotional Ilfenesh Hadera), and daughter, Emma (Kamdynn Gary). As the film opens, sunset approaches, and the powerful supermoon will soon rise. Wesley’s job requires him to come face-to-face with potential werewolves as a protective “moonscreen“ is tested on them to try and prevent the supermoon’s transformational effects. Inevitably, things go wrong, and Wesley and his co-worker Amy (Katrina Law) must venture out into the moonlight to try and get back to their families safely.
It’s a simple premise once the requisite exposition is taken care of. Wesley and Amy’s journey isn’t the most innovative when it comes to action filmmaking. The overuse of smoke effects and constantly flashing lights make it occasionally difficult to comprehend and rob the set pieces of specificity. But the execution of the werewolves themselves is fantastic. They’re all brought to life using actual costumed actors and spectacular makeup. None of the creatures are made using CGI, which is enough of a brilliant move from director Steven C. Miller to turn what’s otherwise a disposable action-horror film into a perfect example of the ability of practical effects to stun an audience still.
These werewolves are enormous, and because they’re portrayed by actual actors interacting with the non-wolf humans on set, their frightening impact is felt. They have weight and might to them, which helps sell the idea that they’re a real threat. The camera doesn’t shy away from them, often showing them snarling in close-up in all their tangible wonder. By the time the film gets to the showdown between a final boss-like werewolf and Wesley, viewers will undoubtedly have a real sense of the antagonist’s violent abilities, giving what should be an obvious ending real stakes.
Grillo is exactly the kind of grizzled action star that this film requires. He has a penchant for saying “motherfucker” over and over again and gives each expletive its own delicious line reading. Law makes for a sympathetic co-star, although her character feels a bit anonymous. And Hadera plays distressed very well while never feeling like a helpless victim stuck at home while her male protector saves the day.
“Werewolves” doesn’t do anything to expand the art form of film, nor does it aim to. Instead, it ends up being the best version of a horror-action movie with an inarguably silly concept. But those impressively executed werewolves represent something all too rare in the modern film landscape: An example of true movie magic.
