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WEREWOLVES WITHIN (2021)
Werewolves Within poster

CAST
SAM RICHARDSON
MILANA VAYNTRUB
GEORGE BASIL
SARAH BURNS
MICHAEL CHERNUS
CATHERINE CURTIN
WAYNE DUVALL
GLENN FLESHLER
HARVEY GUILLEN
RECECCA HENDERSON
CHEYENNE JACKSON
MICHAELA WATKINS

WRITTEN BY
MISHNA WOLFF

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
MATT WISE

EDITED BY
BRETT W. BACHMAN

MUSIC BY
ANNA DRUBICH

PRODUCED BY
JASON ALTMAN
MARGARET BOYKIN
ANDREW LIEBERMAN
NATALIE METZGER
MATT MILLER
SAM RICHARDSON
BENJAMIN WIESSNER

DIRECTED BY
JOSH RUBEN

GENRE
COMEDY
HORROR
MYSTERY

RATED
AUS:MA
UK:NA
USA:R

RUNTIME
97 MIN

 

 


Werewolves Within image

A snappy, entertaining horror comedy, Werewolves Within quickly overcomes its “based on video game” tag thanks to its engaging characters and energetic pace.

Those who do not know would not have guessed Werewolves Within is based on a popular VR game released in 2016. Directed by Josh Ruben (Scare Me) and written by Mischa Wolff, Werewolves Within succeeds on its own terms as an entertaining horror comedy mystery that masterfully weaves in commentary about current day social divisions without sacrificing quality of filmmaking.

Werewolves Within stars Sam Richardson as Finn, the new park ranger of the small rural town of Beaverfield. Immediately the deer-in-headlights Finn is introduced to the townspeople, an eccentric and diverse bunch who are at loggerheads over a proposed pipeline project that promises large payouts. When a mysterious killer makes its presence known in grizzly fashion, the citizens of Beaverfield find themselves hold up in the local lodge during a violent snowstorm, where Finn and equally level-headed post-woman Cecily (Milana Vayntrub) investigate who or what is feasting on them.

Werewolves Within tells its story with an energetic pace, Ruben no doubt inspired by the kinetic filmmaking of Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) that constantly engages with its genre-hybrid stylings that lands in all its facets. Wolff’s witty, snappy dialogue is delivered by a very well-cast trope of actors who revel in the eccentric, mischievous nature of their characters, a broad snapshot of modern-day America that has been ruptured by social and political divisions important and ridiculous in equal measure.

The highlight is Sam Richardson as Finn, the park ranger with a heart of gold and severe malnutrition of masculinity. With Mr. Rogers as his ethical and spiritual guide, Finn tries his darndest to inject some “niceness” into a community torn apart, only to confront an even more terrifying beast in the form of a beastly killer that stalks their every move and strikes with savage ferocity. Richardson proves to be a charismatic and entertaining presence on screen, and shares especially strong chemistry with Vayntrub.

Easily the best video game adaptation made so far, Werewolves Within succeeds on its ability to not rely too heavily on its source material, and instead create its own identity as a howling good werewolf movie.

***1/2

 

 

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