Review: ‘Werewolf by Night’ A Love Letter to Classic Horror Films

“You’ll want to see this darling!” says the film’s main villain, Verussa Bloodstone. I’d say the same about about this gory Halloween special.

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

As its poster suggests, the film nails the campiness and atmosphere of classic horror.

Jack Branson, Staff Writer
October 14, 2022

“You’ll want to see this darling!” says the film’s main villain, Verussa Bloodstone. I’d say the same about about this shockingly gory Halloween special.

“Werewolf by Night” is a 2022 short film directed by Michael Giacchino, who composed the scores for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Batman.”

The film follows Jack Russell, a so-called monster hunter, as he and a group of other hunters set out to find the Monstrous Man-Thing.

I may be a little biased, due to the fact that I adore the Man-Thing comic books on which the film was based. But there is so much more to love about this film than his character.

For starters, this film is an excellent homage to the Universal Classic Monsters franchise. Not only is the film in black and white, but Mr. Giacchino absolutely nailed the campiness and atmosphere of the classic horror films, while providing the viewers with some pretty gruesome action.

You can tell the special effects department really cares about the project they are creating, because they managed to make the Werewolf completely practical, giving it a much more retro horror vibe.

The whole cast gives stellar performances, but the standout is Laura Donnelly’s Elsa Bloodstone, a beloved monster hunter from the comics. Ms. Donnelly brings a whole new depth to the character, including an interesting mother-daughter dynamic between her and the main villain, Verussa Bloodstone. 

“Werewolf by Night’” is just classic spooky fun. If you don’t go into it expecting the next “Dark Knight,” and just have a good time, you’ll have one of the best modern experiences in the sea of oversaturated superhero media. 

My Final Verdict: