Werewolf by Night (2022)

 

Monsters stalk the shadows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Hunters stalk those monsters.

For years, the leader of these Hunters has been Ulysses Bloodstone, but with his death, the position is now open.  Five experienced monster hunters, including a man named Jack Russell, are summoned by Ulysses' widow, Verussa, to Bloodstone Manor. There, they are instructed to participate in a competitive hunt to determine their new leader, who will wield the powerful Bloodstone. Gate-crashing this competition is Ulysses' estranged daughter Elsa, who - despite Verussa's clear hostility - also demands the right to compete for the Bloodstone.

The hunt begins in a large maze on the grounds of the manor, with a captured monster that has been implanted with the Bloodstone as the hunters' quarry.  Kill the creature, retrieve the Bloodstone, become the boss.

It all seems very straightforward, except that not everyone at the hunt is there for the reasons they pretend ...

This Marvel special presentation is a one-hour one-shot that draws a lot of inspiration from - and includes a lot of references toward - the Universal Films monster movies of the 1930s and 1940s.  As an aging, long time film geek, I enjoyed and appreciated these elements.  I do wonder how of it they will translate for a younger, more casual audience.  While I think that Werewolf by Night is entertaining on its own merits, I do wonder if people will be confused by some design choices when they don't have the context of those (now nearly 90-year old!) films.

The most obvious design choice coming from this inspiration is that the show is filmed almost entirely in black and white.  I think it's a good choice.  It looks great overall, with lots of excellent shadow work.  It also allows the show to really highlight the Bloodstone, which is left a bright ruby red and thus really stands out in the footage.  It also allows the final coda of the film to be in colour, providing a nice contrast to the gloomy proceedings that preceded it.

It turns out that Werewolf by Night is as much Elsa Bloodstone's story as it is that of the titular character. Elsa is played by Laura Donnelly, who was one of the two best things about Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands (Ed Speelers was the other, thanks to actually having a character arc to work with).  I hope we will see more of her in the wider MCU - possibly in the upcoming Blade movie?  I certainly don't intend to take anything away from the rest of the cast in this, though - everyone does a good job.

Overall, this is a howling good time.