The moon, that celestial orb that has inspired poets, lovers, and lunatics alike, takes a decidedly sinister turn in Steven C. Miller’s ‘Werewolves’. This post-apocalyptic horror flick throws a supermoon-induced werewolf pandemic at humanity, leaving a trail of carnage and a billion corpses in its wake. A year later, as another supermoon looms, survivors brace themselves for another night of lycanthropic mayhem. While the premise holds promise, the execution, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired, stumbling over its own paws with a plethora of issues ranging from questionable science to some truly underwhelming werewolf effects.
Werewolves
Let’s start with the positives, shall we? Frank Grillo, as the stoic, sensitive, and surprisingly ripped former soldier turned scientist, Wesley, delivers a solid performance. He’s believable as the reluctant hero thrust into a desperate fight for survival. Ilfenesh Hadera, as his widowed sister-in-law Lucy, brings a grounded vulnerability to the role, and young Kamdynn Gary shines as Emma, Lucy’s daughter, proving that even amidst a werewolf apocalypse, child actors can deliver compelling performances.
The film also deserves some credit for its attempts to inject some socio-political commentary into the mix. The contrast between Wesley’s level-headed approach and his neighbor Cody’s (James Michael Cummings) paranoid, gun-toting, Fox News-fueled hysteria offers a glimpse into the anxieties of a divided society. However, these nuances are fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the film’s relentless pursuit of visceral thrills.
Now, brace yourselves, because the bad news is about to come out of the woodwork like a pack of ravenous werewolves. The science behind the werewolf transformations is laughably absurd. The “moonblock” solution, designed to shield humans from the moon’s transformative rays, is a concept so ludicrous it would make a high school science teacher cringe. But hey, who needs scientific accuracy when you have werewolves, right?
Speaking of werewolves, let’s talk about the elephant, or rather, the werewolf in the room: the special effects. While the initial transformation sequences, with their bulging veins and gruesome contortions, are somewhat effective, the final werewolf designs are nothing short of disastrous. The actors appear to be sporting cheap Halloween masks, their snarling faces poorly lit and utterly unconvincing. It’s a far cry from the terrifying creatures of werewolf lore, and it severely undermines the film’s attempts to generate scares.
The action sequences, while plentiful, are also disappointingly generic. Heads are ripped off, limbs are severed, and blood splatters with abandon, but it all feels strangely uninspired. The film relies heavily on gore and shock value, but it lacks the creativity and suspense to truly engage the viewer.
‘Werewolves’ had the potential to be a thrilling, thought-provoking horror film. It had a solid cast, a timely premise, and a few genuinely effective moments. However, its shoddy special effects, nonsensical science, and uninspired action sequences ultimately drag it down into the depths of mediocrity. While it might provide some fleeting entertainment for hardcore horror fans, it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
