Like a lot of folks, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Disney+’s Werewolf by Night special. It featured one of my favorite film score composers, Michael Giacchino, as a first-time director of a black & white TV movie that may or not be a campy joke.
While Werewolf by Night certainly leaned into the camp side of things, it turned out to be a well-produced and enjoyable hour of television with some genuinely cool moments. It also featured one of my favorite B-list Marvel characters in an onscreen appearance that finally does him justice.
Before diving into things, be forewarned that this review will contain some spoilers.
What It’s About
Werewolf by Night (Disney+)
“On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.”
If that description leaves you feeling bewildered, don’t worry about it. Many longtime comic readers (myself included) know very little about this obscure corner of the Marvel Universe.
Here’s what you need to know (or will at least help) going in:
- The Bloodstones are a family of monster hunters who utilize a magic gem (the Bloodstone) to give them power. The stone can also weaken monsters.
- After Ulysses Bloodstone dies, Verussa Bloodstone (his widow) summons a group of elite monster hunters to Bloodstone Manor, where they’ll compete for the Bloodstone and to be the next leader of the monster hunter gang.
- Elsa Bloodstone, who is estranged from her family, also arrives to compete for the stone/title.
- One of the hunters is named Jack Russell (HA!), who will turn out to be a very important character in the story.
What Works
Werewolf by Night (Disney+)
Even if you aren’t into the retro style of Werewolf by Night, you can’t deny how gorgeous it looks. I hope Michael Giacchino keeps writing music for a long time, but I’ll understand if he also wants to continue flexing his talent in the director’s chair. While I’m sure he had ample resources at his disposal (along with a good working knowledge of the industry), it’s still pretty impressive for a first time director to pull off long-take fight scenes like that.
While Werewolf by Night was filming, I’d heard rumors that special effects and costumes were going to look cheap. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case at all. The actual Werewolf by Night was definitely a throwback, but he still looked good. Meanwhile, there was some surprisingly brutal gore along with a wonderfully executed portrayal of the one and only Man-Thing.
I mean, seriously…I can’t be the only one who was surprised at how good he looked. I certainly wasn’t the only one who was surprised at how expressive the character turned out to be. Let’s hope all the positive reaction to Man-Thing’s appearance means we’ll be seeing him again in the MCU’s very near future.
Werewolf by Night (Disney+)
As for the story, it was fun, but a little hard to get invested in. Laura Donnelly as Elise Bloodstone was the standout of the cast, although her chemistry with Gael García Bernal (Jack Russell/Werewolf by Night) was beginning to click just as things got crazy.
Unfortunately, the rest of the cast wasn’t left with much to work with.
What Doesn’t Work
Werewolf by Night (Disney+)
As stated before, the story doesn’t do a whole lot to pull us in beyond its unique look/feel. You could argue that there wasn’t enough time to establish them, but plenty of other shows manage to get the audience invested in their characters during an hour-long episode.
It was also hard to get a feel for the show until the action-packed second half. Comedy and horror is already a hard combination to pull off without major genre considerations.
During its first two acts, Werewolf by Night whipped between ironic camp and playing it straight with reckless abandon. In addition to undercutting the narrative, this caused the story’s primary villain (Harriet Sansom Harris as Verussa Bloodstone) to be largely ineffective.
The Verdict
Werewolf by Night (Disney+)
While the film’s tone and lack of characterization keep it from being great, Werewolf by Night is still a whole of fun — especially if you’re a Marvel fan. If you’re not, though. then it’s worth watching simply to see the first film by someone who might turn out to be a great director.
It’s also guaranteed to be different from anything else you’ll watch this Halloween season.
If you’re still not convinced that Werewolf by Night is worth a look, then consider cueing it up to see why a relatively obscure character like Man-Thing has such a loyal following.
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