Universal Pictures recently released a fabulous boxset that
paid tribute to the classic monster films of yesteryear. Among the pictures included
in the set was The Wolf Man, starring
Lon Chaney, Jr. Universal has tried many times to create a film that would have
the same lasting impact. John Landis's An
American Werewolf in London has achieved cult status, but nothing else has
come close. The troubled production behind Joe Johnston's 2010 remake probably
tarnished the reputation of the werewolf more than enhanced it. It's a
reputation that needs polishing in today's culture where the werewolf exists as
a buff and shirtless pretty boy rather than a primal creature. There was talk
of the studio rebooting Wolf Man yet
again, which leads us to Werewolf: The
Beast Among Us.
Werewolf is set in
a little village in Transylvania where the citizens are plagued by a feral
beast. Folks are slaughtered wholesale under the light of a full moon. Luckily,
an intrepid band of hunters arrive to collect on the handsome reward the
desperate villagers offer. The group is led by Charles (Ed Quinn), an American
gunslinger whose parents were killed by a werewolf. He is joined by the
debonair knife-thrower Stefan (Adam Croasdell); the beautiful, flamethrower wielding
Kazia (Ana Ularu), and the boastful, eyepatch wearing Hyde (Steven Bauer).
Although the movie opens with the hunters and a prologue
detailing the origin of Charles, the lead protagonist is actually Daniel (Guy
Wilson), the earnest apprentice to the town doctor (Stephen Rea, who previously hung out with werewolves in Underworld: Awakening). Daniel is
eager to join the hunters in order to protect his mother, Valdoma (Nia
Peeples), and girlfriend, Eva (Rachel DiPillo). Soon, they find that the
creature they are stalking is no ordinary werewolf. It is faster, stronger, and
smarter than the ones they've faced before.
Werewolf doesn't have
any connections to either Wolf Man
films though it does borrow from both as well as elements from another great
monster flick, Jaws. There's a
sequence where Charles propositions the townsfolk in a similar fashion to
Quint. In a clever scene, Daniel disembowels a corpse and uses the intestines
as werewolf chum. When that fails, a nonplussed Charles makes an obvious nod to
Roy Scheider by saying, "We're gonna
need bigger traps."
Therein lies the main problem with Werewolf. It simply mixes together elements seen in more familiar
films, instead of building upon werewolf mythology. There's nothing new to be
found. It doesn't help that Charles is dressed in a wide-brimmed hat and
trenchcoat reminiscent of Hugh Jackman in Van
Helsing, another failed attempt to resurrect Universal's monsters. The tone
veers between action and horror with a heavy emphasis on the romance between
Daniel and Eva, both of whom are as bland as bland can be. The screenplay tries
to inject an aura of mystery by making the audience guess the identity of the
werewolf. Too bad the answer is fairly obvious before the end of the first act.
At least, the special effects are decent and not as
laughable as other direct-to-video features. Shot on location in Romania, Werewolf is indistinguishable from any
Syfy movie of the week.
The werewolf has taken a cinematic beating over the last few
years with some real bombs like Blood and
Chocolate, Skinwalkers, and Red Riding Hood, not to mention the
franchise that shall not be named. Despite featuring Benicio del Toro, Anthony
Hopkins, and Emily Blunt, The Wolfman
was a critical and commercial flop. If a blockbuster with two Oscar winners
couldn't get the job done, there's not much hope for a straight to video movie
without any big stars. Skip Werewolf: The
Beast Among Us and watch Brotherhood
of the Wolf or Dog Soldiers.
Rating: * (*****)
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