This Purge-Like Supernatural Horror Trades Terrifying Tension For Action & Fun

Werewolves
delivers a thrilling supernatural horror with solid action sequences and high stakes. The film explores a world that combines the chaotic anarchy of The Purge with the intense terror of supernatural monsters and werewolves. The result may not be groundbreaking, but it’s fun and it does what it sets out to do, creating an interesting supernatural horror that keeps tensions high.

Werewolves is set after an odd phenomenon sees over one billion people on planet Earth turned into bloodthirsty werewolves due to a supermoon. One year after this tragedy saw much of the world’s population affected, and many people slaughtered, the supermoon is back. But the humans have come up with a plan to put an end to the terrifying transformations. Frank Grillo plays Wesley Marshall, the man leading the charge for a cure while also trying to protect his family on this dreadful night.

Action Thriller Meets Supernatural Horror In Werewolves

From the outset, the film does appear to have a lot in common with The Purge franchise. The lockdown on a single night, emergency services being withheld, and people turning into violent animals. However, Werewolves’ approach to that last point is far more literal. As a result, the premise does not feel new, and simply adding the supernatural dynamic is not enough to make this a distinct or innovative new chapter for horror films, but it doesn’t come off as a comically bad parody of the aforementioned franchise either.

Without Grillo, this movie could have been considerably less effective in achieving those goals.

Instead, by casting Frank Grillo — who has most recently played Rick Flag Sr. in the DCU and has established himself as an emerging action star — Werewolves has a compelling and reliable hero at the core. Grillo’s Wesley is a man who has both brains and brawn. He’s got a military background and a family to fight for, which makes him a unique and interesting protagonist to follow. Without Grillo, this movie could have been considerably less effective.

As it stands, Werewolves has a consistent and intriguing narrative and Grillo has the skills required to bring it all together. It’s not overly special and it doesn’t stand out as the next Purge, but it’s a solid effort from a smaller studio. On top of that, the effects and transformations of the werewolves are effective and convincing, despite a few scenes that break the immersion due to odd practical effects.

Werewolves Is A Solid Supernatural Horror Story

For writer Matthew Kennedy’s third feature film, but his first foray into the supernatural horror space, Werewolves is written with entertainment in mind, delivering some great scenes that look impressive. Yes, the dialogue is occasionally cheesy and decisions made by the characters don’t always make sense, but for many of the most famous horror movies from the 1980s, this was exactly the case. In that way, it feels like a return to classic horror fun, with tense moments and jump scares and a positive willingness to lean into the tropes.

…the film is written with entertainment in mind, delivering some great scenes that look impressive.

The story is coherent and engaging overall, which is more than can be said for many other horror films that are churned out by indie studios. The acting is solid, with Grillo’s performance keeping us locked in, and the quiet performances of supporting actors, like James Kyson, add incredible depth in moments where it may not be expected. As the story races towards its incredible climax, it leans heavily into the fun that comes with this kind of anarchy.

Werewolves is a solid and fun movie that achieves many of the things it sets out to do. There are elements that it lacks, such as creativity or a solid sense of scale, but what it does deliver it does very well. The special and practical effects are generally strong, and it’s an engaging story, even if it’s not quite comparable to other modern supernatural horrors. Despite this, the movie has a very classic 1980s horror vibe that goes a long way in forgiving what it lacks.

Werewolves arrives in theaters from December 6. The film is 94 minutes long and is rated R for violence, some gore, and language.