Most of the old monster movies I’ve seen have been on Mystery Science Theater 3000, where the hosts are lovingly mocking them, so my knowledge of the genre is somewhat limited. Even so, I do have a soft spot for old B-movies, so I was excited to watch “Werewolf by Night,” directed by Michael Giacchino and streaming on Disney+.
Ulysses Bloodstone (Richard Dixon) has died, and his long sought-after bloodstone is available to whatever monster hunter can slay the beast (Carey Jones) that has the magical weapon embedded in its flesh. At the center of the hunt are Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), a monster hunter with over 100 kills, and Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), the estranged daughter of the late Ulysses. Her stepmother Verussa (Harriet Sansom Harris) leads them to the labyrinth, and the hunt begins, though how it ends is anyone’s guess.
From the opening frames of this special to its conclusion, this is a near perfect homage to the classic monster movie. Giacchino is most well-known for his composition work, scoring favorites like “Up,” “The Incredibles,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” but his direction in this movie is spot on. Taken from the Marvel comic book of the same name, there are numerous shots that have a comic panel look to them. He uses light and shadow brilliantly, allowing monsters to appear even more threatening.
The story in this is fairly thin, something true of many monster movies. But what it lacks in story, it more than makes up for in practical effects. The MCU often comes under fire for its overuse of computer generated images (CGI), but Giacchino went out of his way to use practical effects whenever he was able, and as such, it has a much different feel from a lot of the latest MCU fare. As someone who quite enjoys Marvel movies, but who is also feeling a little burned out from the sheer volume of content coming from the MCU, I appreciated how much of a departure this “special presentation” felt.
The performances were fun and well-done. There wasn’t a lot of meat for the actors to work with, so I wasn’t expecting any kind of award-winning performances, but they clearly had a good time, hamming it up at every opportunity. No doubt, being able to act opposite another actor in an actual monster suit with an animatronic head allows for a bit more of an authentic scene than working with someone in a green bodysuit with a tennis ball where his head will be.
With Halloween just around the corner, choosing spooky movies to watch can be a challenge. This one fits the bill for almost everyone. Gory, campy, funny, spooky, “Werewolf by Night” has it all. I tend to be someone who places story above all, but there is something fun about a campy creature feature. And if you’re looking for a moral, I guess it’s that all of us, man or monster, appreciate a nice french press after a hard day.
ALISE CHAFFINS is a Morgantown writer who loves movies and sharing her opinions. She is a member of the Independent Film Critics of America. Alise reviews a movie from a streaming service every Saturday and one newly in theaters every Sunday. Find more at MacGuffin or Meaning on Substack.
