REVIEW: Marvel Studios’ Werewolf By Night Brings A Health Dose Of Horror To The MCU
Marvel Studios’ Werewolf By Night debuts on Disney+ this Friday, October 7, and fans are in for a spooky little treat. After the death of monster hunter and leader Ulysses Bloodstone, the legendary Bloodstone gem is up for grabs and the best Monster Hunters across the globe have gathered together to determine who shall posses the gem and become the leader of their sacred group. How will they determine this? With a ceremonial hunt of a horrible creature that will name the hunter left standing as the winner and possessor of the gem. However, when the daughter, and disgraced hunter of Ulysses, Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), steps into the hunt to win what rightfully belongs to her, and hunter Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), who has his own reasons for being at the hunt, are thrown into the mix, the hunt becomes something else entirely.
Director Michael Giacchino has created something interesting with this new special presentation from Marvel Studios. He uses a classic mix of old school horror elements, a heavily inspired Twilight Zone look, and horror-slasher gore to wonderfully introduce Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only thing the special truly lacked was any real scares. Did this deter from the overall presentation? Not at all, but it would have been an even nicer touch.
Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly play the special’s two leads and both are a joy to watch. Both actors bring a heavy level of charm to their performances, but also manage to keep an air of mysterious to their characters that lend well to the special. Harriet Sansom Harris, Eugenie Bondurant, Leonardo Nam, Kirk R. Thatcher, and Al Hamacher round out the special’s supporting cast. Bondurant, Nam, and Thatcher take on the roles of the other hunters participating in the hunt, and are not given much to do, but hunt. Harris plays Elsa’s stepmother, Verusa, and gives a very over-the-top performance while Hamacher plays the Bloodstone family’s butler, who also is a tad bit over-the-top.
Werewolf By Night is another good addition to the horror side of Marvel that has yet to make it’s full debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The special is a great mix of the typical Marvel style with numerous horror elements that delivers a delightful spooky treat. Hopefully, this becomes an annual tradition for Marvel Studios because Russell and Bloodstone have a lot more story to tell.