Marvel’s Werewolf by Night is spectacular!
Hey All!
It is Halloween Season and Disney Plus will be celebrating by having several appropriately themed shows and films from its various intellectual properties drop throughout the month of October. Marvel Studios has its own specific submission for the Hallowstream 2022 season with its first ever Marvel Studios Special Presentation Werewolf by Night.
Werewolf by Night is not show, but it also isn’t a regular feature length film. The running time is just under an hour and includes characters that, while well established in Marvel Comics, are completely new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The two lead characters of this story are Jack Russell, played by Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Motorcycle Diaries) and Elsa Bloodstone, played by Laura Donnelly (The Nevers, Outlander). Both Bernal and Donnelly bring nuance and personality to their characters and thus make each them very memorable. Bernal is human and full of kindness, but also fearlessness in spite of his condition and situation. Donnelly perfectly conveys the British discontent I know Elsa Bloodstone for. And whoever is the stunt person portraying Elsa is amazing by performing the kind of moves that are very closely associated with the character Black Widow.
Though the title of the special is Werewolf by Night, the story is actually about a group of monster hunters who are brought together to see who will inherit a mystical stone when its previous owner has passed. The challenge is to compete against each other while also hunting a monster with the winner being the one to overcome all of the obstacles. Though that is the setting, that is not the plot because our two leads, Jack and Elsa, have their own agendas.
Werewolf by Night is very much part of the genre of old Universal Creature Horror films. The cinematography is stark with its use of shadows and black and white style. The music sounds like it would come out of an old Lon Chaney film. When a supernatural transformation takes place, it is done with hints and silhouettes, not because Marvel cannot afford it, but because it is an homage and stylistic choice. Though the style is choosing to homage classic horror films, I would not say Werewolf by Night is scary at all. Obviously the violence and creatures are not for the eyes of very young children, but I would say if you watched Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness and had zero issues with Raimi’s horror style, then Werewolf by Night will be a walk in the park.
Werewolf by Night more than anything is a Marvel Studios production with all of the action, humor, and heart that comes with the brand. We also get the introduction of three major Marvel comics’ characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe who, because they are played by established actors and leave a lasting impression, I believe will return in future projects.
Michael Giacchino, more commonly recognized as a very successful composer (he created the current Marvel Studios logo theme music), is the director in his first real feature and absolutely nails it. The assignment was to make a Marvel Studios story with the skin of a Universal Horror film and that is exactly what this is. This fun and unique entry into the MCU is perfect for this time of year and I plan on watching again and again.
Check it out on Disney+ Now! You don’t want to miss this spooktacular short film!
Check out more Halloween fun HERE!
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