It's rare to find a good werewolf movie that achieves good story and a well done representation of the mythical creatures on screen. Steven C. Miller's Werewolves is the latest film that features humans turned lycanthropes after a super-moon event. While Miller's practical werewolves are delightful to witness, the story falters before it can get its footing.
Werewolves is about Wesley (Frank Grillo), a molecular biologist who is working with the government to create a cure that prevents humans from turning into werewolves. After the loss of his brother, he works to prepare his sister in law and niece for a purge-like night of mayhem when humans will once again be susceptible to turning. When things go left during the testing, Wesley and another scientist, Dr. Chen (Katrina Law), work together to make it to his family before it's too late.
Quite simplistic at its core, Matthew Kennedy's script becomes convoluted by science that not only bogs down the story, it lacks consistency throughout the narrative. On the other hand, I can appreciate the creative twist on the werewolf lore we've come to expect. The film presents a lack of survival logic and clear choices that are made that just don't make sense. There is also a disconnect in how much awareness is retained once the humans become werewolves. In one instance it seems as though they do indeed have some awareness of who they are but that conflicts with the actions of key characters and how they are presented later on in the film. There doesn't seem to be any care put into the writing or the tone here, it's all about the werewolves.
Photo Credit: Briarcliffe Entertainment
Alec Gillis, the Oscar-nominated SPFX designer behind Werewolves, is known for his work on films such as Aliens, Godzilla v. Kong, and Prey. In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, Gillis stated, “If you look at actual wolves, they’re very slender. They’re almost gangly. It’s their necks and their heads because of the mass of their fur that gives it that powerful feeling, but their limbs themselves are actually pretty long and thin." And they are conveyed well on screen. You can appreciate the work that went into not only creating these creatures, but seeing them create a night of chaos.
And if the werewolves in action are not enough, of course there's plenty of sweaty Frank Grillo action to keep you invested until the final sequence, which packed the most punch. You just have to turn off your brain and take this one for what it is-- a brainless, action-packed werewolf thriller. There is no need to learn who the characters names are or their importance because there is no emotional depth to hold on to, even when one of the lead characters breaks down in tears and there is a cue for the emotional stock music to play.
Rating: ⭐⭐.5