Maksym Osa

As this is the first ever Ukrainian comic book adaptation, I double its score, otherwise it is advised only for hardcore trash or Ukraine fans. The only decent scene is "werewolf's" transformation by the end, and the predictable plot is barely saved by a mildly surprising twist. The "evil returns" promise at the end kinda reminds 80s, but overall meagre 1 000 000 USD budget due to movie being completed during the war spells failure. Otherwise this fragmented work never delivers its promising premise: it's neither Sin City, nor Tarrantino :( If you are into best Ukrainian war movies, check "Nashi Kotyky", if period fantasy then "Infernal Guidon, or Cossack Christmas" as for historical "Escape from Stalin's Death Camp" (only non-trash listed here). For Ukrainian Ed Wood check out Lybomyr Levytski's "Tini nezabutykh predkiv" or other recent works.

Not a bad tale to show indeed. The movie does not go much into the fantasy aspect of werewolves, but more towards a scientific approach that goes towards the mundane than supernatural approach to werewolves.

Still, the idea of the werewolf remains the same if you have read old lore about them like Peter Stumpp. Man, monster, evil incarnate or misunderstood.

Let's get to the story, a band of travelers delivering gold to a castle gets ambushed by a werewolf where one guy is framed for the killings as well as for stealing the gold.

This whole story requires you to think about all the characters from the perspective of the main one being Maksym Osa, a Cossack who no one trusts.

You must find the clues, check each character's motives, and then deduce who the perpetrators are in the crime and the killings.

I do like the costumes used in the movie, keeping it accurate for the time of superstition and such. The werewolf did not look bad as well, I actually enjoyed it despite my experience with other more flesh-out werewolf looks such as An American Werewolf in London's practical effects and CGI of Van Helsing's.

The story was enjoyable, the characters likeable, the action sequence with hints of comedic fighting, all of it was good. This will definitely go down as a good werewolf movie on my list and I watch a lot of them (all the Howlings, classics featured from Svengoolie, Brotherhood of the Wolf, and many others).

Give it a chance. It is worth watching.

Writing this review to counter another review telling it's a "trash for niche audience". Trash for niche audience are Zombeavers, Hobo with a Shotgun, and The Greasy Strangler, but definitely not this film.

The story is interesting and not predictable at all, the actors acting is at a level. The general ambiance and style made me think about what Netflix did: that's how The Witcher should have looked like instead of what we have.

Looks absolutely weird to compare it with Tarantino or Sin City, which absolutely unrelated comparison the same like comparing beer and wine. It's a step above the already mentioned The Witcher series.

I am not familiar with the comics the movie was inspired by, so my impression is not affected by any comic fan feelings.

The very strange movie with no werewolves... Just a guy in a suit you on the see a couple of times.

It seems to be some kind of gothic wizards and hobbits type production which is subtitled due to being in another language.

For what it is the performance of the actors is actually quite good but sometimes it's coupled with modern music and your left wondering what the heck is going on,,!??

So if you've got a couple of hours spare then... Watch something else!

It's just a bizarre movie, and at the end you're having to realise you're not going to get the time back.. I like werewolf movies and movies which are worth watching.. sadly this is neither.