Werewolves (2024): Review and Summary
“Werewolves” reminds you why the werewolf trend hasn’t revived like vampires despite multiple movies in a year with no true revival in sight.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Film Length | 1 Hour 33 Minutes |
| Release Date | December 6, 2024 |
| Advisory Rating | Rated R |
| Initially Available On/Via | Theatrical Release |
| Genre(s) | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller |
| Distributor | Briarcliff Entertainment |
| Director | Steven C. Miller |
| Writer | Matthew Kennedy |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Wesley | Frank Grillo |
| Lucy | Ilfenesh Hadera |
| Emma | Kamdynn Gary |
Plot Summary
It has been almost a year since the last supermoon altered human DNA and turned millions of people into werewolves. Luckily, the effect isn’t permanent, just overnight, but the devastation has put the world on high alert. So, with another supermoon coming, everyone is prepping for the worst, and scientists are hoping for the best with a moon screen (a take on sunscreen) that could protect people during the night.
However, with some being unhoused or almost like addicts when it comes to feeling the supermoon, the threat of werewolves is as high as ever. So when it comes to Wesley and his family, which includes Lucy and Emma, he is trying to give them a fighting chance both as a member of the team studying the moon screen and as a veteran ready to unleash hell if he needs to.
Character Descriptions
Wesley
Wesley is one of the head scientists on the moon screen project. A veteran, he is as focused on finding a means to fight the rise of werewolves as he is on protecting his brother’s wife and daughter.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.”
Lucy
Lucy is a mother and widow trying to protect her child, do her mantras, and use a shotgun Wesley taught her to use, if necessary, to survive the supermoon night.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Equalizer.”
Emma
Emma is Lucy’s daughter who she tries to distract from everything going on.
Other Noteworthy Information
Where To Watch This:- Movie Contains: Gun Violence, Gore, Blood, Notable Fight Scenes, Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror
- The director is also known for “Margaux.”
- The writer is also known for “Inheritance.”
Review
Our Rating (69/100): Negative (Acquired Taste)
Audience
If you like animatronics, werewolves, and bullets flying, alongside some gore and blood, “Werewolves” will scratch an itch but may not leave you satisfied.
Low Points
The Lighting Decisions Which Make You Wonder If There Should Be An Epilepsy Warning
As things go to hell in a lab, fairly early in the film, the strobe lights blink on and off, creating a visual that is honestly hard to look at. I would even say those sensitive to light, especially flashing lights, may want to be careful when watching this movie, especially if you want to see it in theaters.
Now, you may wonder, does it at least make sense for the lighting to be like that? Not in the least. It happens as things go from stable to bad, and it is in a lab when the lights start getting to the point where you can’t look at the screen for extended amounts of time.
On The Fence
The Animatronics Look Dated
The animatronics in “Werewolves” look similar to those in the 1991 to 1994 show “Dinosaurs.” The only difference is that now the entities have fur and are made to scare rather than make you laugh.
The Challenge Of Becoming Invested In Any Character
Perhaps the biggest issue of “Werewolves” is that it is so generic that it is hard to get into the characters or story. Wesley is your military veteran, who also happens to be a scientist, who is excellent with a gun and can somehow get past multiple dangerous situations without much, if anything, happening to him. Maybe his colleagues things may happen but him? He is Rambo.
Then, when it comes to Lucy and Emma, while there is an effort to make Lucy into some badass, she isn’t crafted in such a way to make that an appeal. She and Emma hit a glass ceiling where they are not much beyond Wesley’s will to live and fight and the objects he is supposed to protect. So, seeing Wesley’s adversaries and obstacles easily being outmaneuvered doesn’t present the idea that Emma and Lucy are in any danger, even as multiple werewolves surround them.
This ultimately removes any sense of thrill, anxiety, or worry from the film and leaves you a bit bored—even as you see supporting characters die.
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