Werewolves Review

In a landscape where horror films increasingly subvert conventions – like the upcoming Wolfman, which promises a fresh twist on lycanthropy tropes – it’s almost refreshing to see a more straightforward take on the genre. With Werewolves, director Steven C Miller isn’t concerned so much with deconstructing the genre, instead leaning into its traditional roots. While it may not redefine horror, its effective execution and tense atmosphere provide a satisfying throwback to creature features of old.

Set in an alternate world where a supermoon has brought out some kind of latent lycanthropy in the entire population, Frank Grillo plays an ex-military scientist, working on a cure for the condition that emerged the previous year. Meanwhile, his brother’s widow (Ilfenesh Hadera) prepares to batten down the hatches for the night, protecting her daughter and staying out of the moonlight, which could potentially turn their friends and neighbours into monsters.

Where the film is strongest is in its world-building. It feels like a flip side to vampire films where vampires wax lyrical about missing the sunrise. Here, the full moon is universally feared, as anyone could potentially turn into a werewolf after being exposed. It’s a farfetched premise but Miller neatly grounds it in reality. The film often feels like two types of very familiar horror stories clumsily merged. The first, where a group of scientists tries to cure the world of werewolves, is the weaker one, and clearly, Miller felt the same way, all but discarding this at the halfway mark. The other well-trod storyline is Grillo and his fellow scientist (Katrina Law) making the perilous journey through the moonlit city to try and protect his family. This works far better, largely thanks to Grillo’s performance and the effective depiction of the journey through werewolf-infested streets. The convenient addition of eye drops that prevent transformation is a clever touch, adding urgency to the character’s plight.

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The script is often pedestrian, but the performances, particularly Grillo, elevate the material. While he starts a bit subdued, he comes alive in the action sequences, bringing charisma and much-needed vitality to the film. Ilfenesh Hadera is less successful as his sister-in-law, with some particularly wooden line readings, but to be fair she is lumbered with some of the most clunky dialogue in the film. The monologues she has are particularly egregious, whether she is berating her dead husband or reciting a banal mantra about being prepared.

Grillo has much more natural chemistry with Katrina Law, even if her characterisation is pretty sketchy – her primary motivation, to cure her werewolf partner, is abruptly dropped along with the laboratory subplot. Similarly, Lou Diamond Philips brings much-needed gravitas to his role, but it’s not enough to make his paper-thin character stand out, and he essentially serves as little more than an exposition delivery service.

Fortunately, the werewolves themselves, designed by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruffe Jr are terrifying, their distorted, snarling jaws forming an obscene parody of a grin, and the transformation sequences showcase some admirable effects. As ever though, they look their best in fleeting glimpses – up close and well-lit, that they lose some of their menace, appearing oddly slimy and artificial.

The film is at its best when it demonstrates restraint and suspense. The standout moments are those that anyone can relate to. The scene where the two central characters hide under a car while hunted by a pack of werewolves is filled with palpable tension, while the quandary of even answering the front door on a night when there are literal monsters outside speaks to a universal fear.

Werewolves is not going to trouble anybody’s list of great werewolf films, it’s clunky and derivative, lifting plot beats wholesale from other horror classics. But while it has its flaws, it sinks its teeth into the familiar B-Movie horror territory with relish, and delivers exactly what it promises: a tense, entertaining creature feature with solid practical effects. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun, with a strong lead performance and a few memorable scares.

★★★

Werewolves is available on Digital Platforms 13th January and DVD 20th January / Frank Grillo, Ilfenesh Hadera, Katrina Law, Lou Diamond Phillips / Dir. Steven C. Miller / Signature Entertainment / 15