User reviews

Impressive directorial debut from music composer, Giacchino, who approaches visual storytelling like the magical music he creates, with every shot (note) synchronized with the character's emotions, all in splendorous black and white giving it a 1940s feel that reminds one of a Jacques Tourneur classic horror film (most notable, Cat People).

Gael García Bernal is perfectly cast as the legendary Marvel unsung hero, Jack Russell. Gael underplays the role with a gentle humility giving it a somewhat realistic empathetic character that is not seen in most Marvel projects. The remaining characters are a joy as they ramp it up in the Marvel mode, creating a conflicting contrast to that of Jack's humbleness, until Jack becomes a wolf! The most enjoyable of all was the interaction with Jack and the monster, an absolute delight.

A visual striking and very entertaining unconvoluted Marvel short film that should have been a feature. Please turn this into a series!

Werewolf by Night retains the MCU's trademark humour for better and for worse and would've definitely benefited from a longer run time but it remains a great exercise in genre with a clear love for classic monster movies and has a blast going to more violent ends than usual.

Gael García Bernal brings the heart and clumsy charm to the proceedings whilst Laura Donnelly is the more stoic one with some solid dry wit to balance it out and Harriet Sansom Harris absolutely chews the scenery to great effect.

The use of black and white combined with the added film grain and cigarette burns is really impressive and enhances the experience. It also really helps it standout in an increasingly crowded and overly familiar universe.

Michael Giacchino's direction is amazing, especially for a debut. It's so artistically composed in its striking imagery and skillfully controlled symphonies of violence. Giacchino's score is also excellent, instantly evocative and grandiose in all the right ways.

I haven't been terribly impressed by recent MCU entries but this is the best thing they've done since Multiverse of Madness.(I was disappointed due to my own expectations as well but still liked it). I love the hybrid feel of 80' Halloween special meets old black and white monster movie. It has a little intentional camp and cheese to it which actually works for the genre crossing and it spares us the excessive comedy the MCU is fond of shoving down our throats in every single thing they do lately. This one is stylish and entertaining and paced just right for its just under one hour run time. If for no other reason those who enjoyed the old late 70's early 80's Halloween specials on network tv should check this out as a nice throwback to that era. It is fun without relying on being FUNNY every moment. Please stick with this formula a little more and let a darker side of the MCU thrive as an alternative to the mainstream materials which have become so cookie cutter and joke oriented. Werewolf By Night is a win and proof that you CAN still put out something different.

Werewolf by Night is an unexpectedly atypical MCU release. It doesn't feel like the usual MCU genre. It's a lot darker and in the direction of horror. And I'm really happy with how they didn't seem to hold back on the violence. There is actually blood! (looking at you, Morbius, a vampire movie with zero blood)

I love the style, somewhat of a throwback to old monster flicks. Michael Giacchino does a good job with both directing and the musical score. There are some good horror moments and a few great shots.

Overall I really enjoyed this special. I know there is the Marvel fatigue crowd probably groaning over more content, but I don't get fatigue from awesomeness. I would love to see more specials like this.

(2 viewings, 10/15/2022, 7/15/2024)

This special feature was a breathe of fresh air for the MCU. It's unclear how connected this will be to the main MCU as of yet, but I hope they carry forward the darker side of the marvel universe, and when needed, the darker tone.

The film is a great tribute both it's source material, as well as to the classic creature feature of the '50s. The story is straight forward and easy to follow, with decent acting. However the style and cinematography of this is what gives it such a high writing in my opinion. The black and white, vintage style really suits the mood and tone of the film, and makes it stand out.

All I can do is recommend this film, not just to Marvel fans wanting something new from the MCU, but also to any enjoyers of vintage horror.

Werewolf by Night was an unexpected addition to the Marvel canon, and a welcome one at that. It was directed by Michael Giacchino, an Oscar winning composer making his directorial debut. He also composes the special's score, and it's some of his best work. Giacchino's love of classic monster movies is evident throughout the film, especially at the beginning. It has 1930s/40s title cards at the beginning, and the music is very reminiscent of the classic horror films. Perhaps the best homage is the use of practical effects rather than CGI, which the monsters movies back then exemplified. There are some downsides. The classic effect does begin to wear off after a while, and then it will feel like you're watching a Marvel movie with a black and white filter. The writing was okay. There's still cringeworthy Marvel humor. But given how cookie cutter Marvel movies have become, something as unique as Werewolf by Night is a more than welcome addition to the MCU canon.

...Is this brief, 50-minute "special presentation". Gael Garcia Bernal stars as one of several monster hunters, part of a secret society of such people, who are brought together for a meeting that has a dual purpose: 1, to honor their recently fallen leader, and 2, to choose a new leader. This vetting process will consist of the hunters being trapped in a labyrinth with a monster, attached to which is the fabled "Bloodstone", a mystical relic that imbues its possessor with great power. The hunters have to overcome the creature, and each other, to claim the Bloodstone and become the new leader. Among those contending are the daughter of the dead leader, Elsa (Laura Donnelly).

Presented in B&W, with a few snatches of color here and there, this is trying to evoke the Universal horror films. The performances by Bernal and Donnelly are fine, while Harriet Sansom Harris chews the scenery as the widow of the deceased leader. I have been looking forward to this for the past few months, but unfortunatelyI found it lacking. The story is thin and full of nonsensical dumbness (why would a monster-hunter society convene their best and brightest only to have them hunt one another?), the tone pitched too cartoonish, and worst of all, despite the title, the werewolf only appears for a few minutes.

The aspect that's likely to be most discussed is Man-Thing, the giant plant-monster character from Marvel comics making his live action debut. Like many recent Marvel additions, though, he's largely reduced to a punchline. All-in-all, I'd rank this at the bottom of the Marvel canon thus far, although maybe someone else can do something more interesting with the characters further down the line.

Werewolf By Night is one of the most overrated MCU Disney+ projects of all time, keep in mind that doesn't mean it's bad but the fact some people are calling it better than every MCU show is absolutely insane, it doesn't even come close to that.

I could not tell you the plot of Werewolf By Night if you paid me $100, it is that forgettable, the entire runtime I was waiting for something to happen until things finally picked up in the last 15 minutes, but then it was just over.

Shooting it in black and white definitely helped pay homage to classic monster films like Dracula, Nosferatu, and The Wolfman, but it also definitely brought me out of the film experience, they also wasted Man-Thing and White Tiger, I could not care less about the characters in this.

C+

I had no idea Marvel was capable of something like this. I had never heard of this character and I didn't know what it was before its release. The writers, director, etc.. I hope Disney has locked them down. Everything about this is magical. Even the presentation, which I assume is an homage to century old creature features. Im just blown away at the creativity, storytelling, the casting, all of it. This thing was short and they still did the male and female lead justice with a proper backstory and very satisfying finish. I am hoping Marvel can take this masterpiece and build from it. Obviously I wouldn't expect future productions of these characters to be this perfect, but I hope they put forth the same effort. Its all anyone can ask.

A simple Google search of these characters will present the various editions of the 70s Marvel comics and will show how comic accurate the Werewolf & Man-Thing are, Elsa Bloodstone is another matter, her character wasn't created until 2001 and although her tough nature and fighting skills are evident she looks nothing like her various depictions from the comics, neither the big busted scantily clad blonde version or the big busted red haired rifle toting version.

All in all this Halloween special was excellent, entertaining and most of all it introduces these characters into the MCU, each character has played a part of the wider Marvel comics storylines since their introductions and have been alongside or fought against the myriad of Marvels more popular superheroes.

Criticism of Werewolf by night's appearance is in itself ridiculous as the character was based on Lon Chaneys version of the Wolfman and apart from more recent artistic choices by some artists the character has always been depicted as a Wolfman and not as a version of a full blown Werewolf depicted in various movies from the past few decades.

Man-Thing was an excellent addition to this special and a fantastic surprise, all thanks to Kevin Feige's suggestion the character be included, both characters have a long history together in the comics, more importantly, apart from a brief cameo in Dr Strange 2 this is the 1st time Man-Thing has been seen on screen since the 2005 Man-Thing movie,a low budget monster movie loosely based on the characters comic origin that depicts the character as a monster rather than the monster-super-hero of the comics.

Hopefully this one off special will lead to more appearances by these fantastic characters.

Werewolf By Night is one of Marvel's most pleasant surprises, although they seem too afraid to jump in with both feet. While it does fails to transcend the already set bar of good horror, it is better than anything Marvel has put out since Endgame.

While I do wish I knew more about the characters, it is also understandable that you can only accomplish so much in less than 50 minutes.

Giacchino really surprises the audiences with what feels like a well-directed faux-imitation of mid-20th-century horror. While it sometimes feels draggy, they could do more in this "universe" in the future.

Not a must watch for either horror fans or Marvel stans, not a regrettable experience either.

Just finished this and am wondering about the one and only review, as well as the 7.6 rating.

It has long been known that production companies can and do cook the reviews and ratings, especially weighted reviews, but is this some kind of experiment?

It is a homage, and it reminds you that it is using black and white, tableux's and cigarette burns (see Fight Club).

But I mean, they're just lobbed in there for good measure and feel a wee bit too forced?

And this brings me to the script and acting. Yes, I get that this is a homage, and uses a comic as the source of inspiration....

But it is a rather blandly performed piece that has some funny moments, but maybe I am not the target audience?

It is nicely shot, has sets, decent CGI, but it is just a wee bit flat and this is why it seems like experimental TV.

Maybe it is highbrow and succulent in it's form. Maybe I'm just too critical and cynical...

But how this has 7.6 is beyond me. And that very first review? Reads more like a love letter than a critical overview.

Master monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone is dead. Various monster hunters have been summoned to Bloodstone Manor. Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal) and Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly) are two hunters. One will inherit the powerful Bloodstone. There is a trial. The hunter who kills the monster wins.

The MCU is taking a side trip. It's a throwback to old black and white horror. It has some fun. It has some horror. It has some camp. It's not directly connected to the main MCU stories. I hope that they do more of this and that it remains a side story. I like both Bernal and Donnelly. There is good potential here.

This one brings me back to my all-time childhood nightmare: Michael Jackson's Thriller MV, which scared the crap out of me with the transformation scene and the yellow eyes. Anyway, the short film itself is quite exquisite in comparison to the rest of Phase Four: unique worldview, captivating story, and protruding style. Taking us back to the early monster horrors, Michael Giacchino deserves a standing ovation for being both an incredible composer as well as a novel director. However, due to it's length, the picture only contains a few exciting moments, while most characterizations are done using explanatory dialogues. Despite including some rated-R fight scenes, the expected final bloodshed is still perceptibly restrained. In all, it's nice to see the Man Thing and Werewolf join the Marvel Bunch, and this is definitely a time-friendly short film for you to enjoy.

What a fun and well made movie, lots of classic elements, not really scary, but fun and a rewarding time with a great ending.

For Marvel this is a much needed win after bad storylines like that of She-Hulk.

Great cast and acting, Laura Donnelly and Gael García Bernal are perfect for their roles, music underscored everything perfectly and the fact that it was in black and white didn't take away from it, but rather added to the charm.

The storyline was great and creative, something that I find is missing a lot lately in newer movies and TV shows.

This one is a very recommended watch, it'll leave you wishing it was a bit longer, but also refreshingly satisfied.

A rather short story that's rather entertaining to watch. It's also rather set like a drama from yesteryear.

The good: Good way of setting the scene especially in black and white.

Good suspense and thriller.

Quick to develop characters.

Good use of sound.

The bad: Too short that you don't really get to feel much for the characters.

The black and white setting was good, but the but of colour could have been used more to make certain elements (like monsters eyes) more impactful.

The Great elements weren't fully developed, so at times you almost get the 'Monsters Inc' feeling!

But overall a good way to spend an hour. Would give it 6 out of 10. Maybe there could be a part II.

This was a pretty short movie, i actually thought it would turn out to be a series but apparently it was a one time deal.

Yes man thing was amazing and probably the best character in the whole movie.

I was not aware of this side of the marvel universe with classic monsters, and monster hunters this was fairly new to me.

Its a very well packed hour with lots happening, the hunters are for the most part skilled at what they do.

The only complain with the special effects is the werewolf itself, they could have at least made it look terrifying. Think of 1987 series Werewolf the costume back then was amazing.

But all in all it was a great watch.

This was a really well-done short tv movie and a great directorial debut of one of the best composers ever.

Everything production-wise to make this one feel as 30s horror as you can get is just top-notch. From the film grain which I have missed a lot since so many new movies are shot on digital and look too clean, and all the other visual lines and dots and circles you see in old movies.

This movie is surprisingly (not that surprising if you've seen the trailer) very bloody and gory and I think it helps that it's black and white, but it's still impressive and surprising we're getting this from Disney and MCU of all studios, and it makes me a little bit more hopeful about future movies of MCU like Blade and Deadpool and other stuff.

Phase 4 of MCU has been lackluster to say the least, but this is definitely the most unique and different looking and feeling project they've put out in a long time which I enjoyed thoroughly, and I wish it was longer because it had/has a potential for a long anthology series about the hunters and monsters of this universe.

And the potential is definitely way way more than Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk. Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk should've been a 2-hour tv movie and this could've been a series, but I'm still ok with them not making a formulaic 6 episode series that nothing happens for 5 episodes and they rush everything in a 35-minute finale.

Still, this one had interesting characters and a lore that could've been expanded into a feature-length film or a tv show. Because obviously, 50 minutes is not enough for complete characterization and storytelling, but this movie surprisingly did a good job of establishing its characters in this short runtime.

Considering this is the first time Michael Giacchino is directing, the direction and the cinematography of this movie are really impressive and the music completes the trio into making a really well-made short movie and an enjoyable one at that.

The only minor problem I had with it was the design of the werewolf itself, which is not that big of a deal and you'll get used to it, but the design is more man than wolf. Not to mention the goofy acrobatics and the martial arts the werewolf does like pretty much every other MCU superhero, which also felt more man than wolf.

So all in all, I thought it was a really nice surprise and a breath of fresh air and a time well-spent and I hope to see more of these tv movies from Disney+ instead of soulless formulaic 6-episode tv series.

Pros:

• Great directing from the first-time director Michael Giacchino
• Great cinematography and music
• Good and likable distinct characters as well as a decent plot introduced efficiently in a very short time
• Great visual treat and an homage to 30s monster films
• Bloody as can be
• Gives hope to more mature and serious shows and movies from MCU
• Good acting from all the actors and
• Great action scenes for the most part

Cons:

• The story and characterization could've benefited a lot from another hour
• The werewolf design could've been more wolfy and his attack scenes less superhero-y
• The plot doesn't have much going for it and it's nothing new because of the short runtime
• The short runtime makes the movie kinda forgettable.

Werewolf by Night is Marvel's new tv special, and it does things the company hasn't done before.

One: It's in black and white. It's advertisements were in the style of classic horror b-movies, and while the film didn't really use that style, it was clearly inspired by those types of films, with Easter eggs to films like 'The Brain that Wouldn't Die', and scenes that, in formula and concept seem ripped straight out of a 40s horror film.

Two: It's mostly self contained. There are no references to any other Marvel films or shows. Since Moon Knight had his first appearance in an issue of the comic series this tv special is based on, many expected Steven Grant to make an appearance (myself included). But he wasn't even mentioned or referenced. While Marvel fans can expect to see Man-Thing and the Werewolf again, for now, this story stands on its own.

For fans of classic campy horror or Marvel or any cinema in general, this will be of interest. Since it's still self-contained, you don't need to see anything else to understand this. This is a unique piece of entertainment that proves Marvel isn't at its low point.

Werewolf at Night isn't even a feature film length, so why one has to have the same word count when writing a review is a question that has just occurred to me.

Anyway, I spent a day or three watching Marvel Phase 4 shows and movies. This was one of the best. A refreshing change of tone. Marvels strategy is to lean heavily on uber talented actors while keeping the dialogue as simple as possible, and it works here.

Great effects, used sparingly. Neat characters and overall enjoyable watch, without trying to be a Christopher Nolan movie with twists and turns as some Marvel output can veer towards.

Finally met the character limit. Watch it, it's good.