Steven C. Miller (director)
(studio)
15 (certificate)
93 (length)
13 January 2025 (released)
6 d
With a (possible) tip of the hat to The Purge, Werewolves is tale of forced enclosure of humans to avoid the rays of a supermoon that will turn them into werewolves. A supermoon being the phenomenon that caused the change in the first place by triggering a dormant gene in humans.
There are scientists battling away for a cure by experimenting on caged volunteers. They are trialling a cream that will act as a screen against the moon’s rays, as well as something more permanent. In the meantime, the miliary are corralling those that can’t stay in their own heavily fortified homes into camps for their protection.
Then there are those who just want to glory in the change and go on the rampage, as well as the token nuts who are gunned up to nines ready to take them all on.
It's all fairly cliched with the scientists fighting against time, a family trapped in their home with the defences failing, with someone rushing across the city to save them from the hairy hordes.
A strong cast that includes Lou Diamond Philips, Frank Grillo and Kartina Law take it all in their stride. Written by Matthew Kennedy it could have been an excuse for a camp out. But the cast play it pretty straight. Having said that the people who transform into werewolves keep the clothes they are wearing as well as their hair. So we are treated to leather jacketed werewolves with purple mohicans or garish painted faces.
The main problem with werewolf films was they’d fall apart when it came the transformation scenes, save for a few notable exceptions. However clever use of practical and CGI effects here renders the changes effective and at times very gruesome.
Where this film suffers is in the lighting which is awful for almost the whole length of the film. There’s almost a constant lens glare on the image and there are far too many flashing lights. Its hard to believe that this is deliberate but Steven C. Miller is a very experienced director so who knows.
Werewolves will be available on Digital Platforms on 13 January 2025 and DVD on 3 February. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.
