Will admit to feeling nervous about seeing 'Werewolves of the Third Reich'. The low rating and poor reviews were not promising, and too many of my recent low-budget viewings with both of those here have proven to be that bad and worse. The idea also seemed really ridiculous, even for one clearly not meant to be taken seriously and with the potential to be executed in an intelligence insulting way.
My nervousness proved after watching 'Werewolves of the Third Reich' to be justified. 'Werewolves of the Third Reich' was yet another film to be that bad, as bad as the low rating and reviews suggested, and worse. It was not only ridiculous and terribly made but also intelligence insulting to a near-offensive degree, with a huge amount to criticise and nothing to recommend. Have nothing really to add, with it said already so well, other than my thoughts.
Knowing where to begin with the criticisms is difficult. 'Werewolves of the Third Reich' looks cheap, with drab and rushed-looking photography, haphazard editing, risible visual effects that just look strange, inauthentic and shoestring budget-like costumes and far from atmospheric or spooky settings. The sound quality is intrusive and obvious and can remember little about the music other than how ill-fitting it was.
Dialogue is cheesy as sin and delivered with accents that are both stereotypical and incomprehensible and words delivered in a way that will make native Germans and those studying German cringe and feel insulted. The story is uneventful in the first act and becomes increasingly silly and implausible, as well as tension-free and lacking in coherence. The action is clumsy and dull and the direction shows no engagement or experience with the material.
Characters are irritating and little more than cartoonish caricatures. Don't let the titular creatures elevate things, they are barely in it and are poorly designed. The acting is all round awful, with lots of histrionics and bizarre miscasting (Hitler is one of the biggest dishonourable mentions).
Overall, terrible. 1/10 Bethany Cox
