The premise for Stephen C. Miller’s Werewolves is a strong supernatural action plot: one year ago, there was a supermoon – the moon is at its closest to the Earth – when something went wrong. Over a billion people who were touched by the moonlight were transformed into violent werewolves for the entire night. As a one-off, this would be one of the greatest tragedies in human history, but the supermoon is back, and it looks like people will turn into werewolves again. Tonight.
Buy Werewolves Blu-rayAfter the initial title cards explain the situation, the adventure splits into two paths: fortifying a home and trying to find a cure for the werewolf problem. Involved in both stories is Wes Marshall (Frank Grillo), ex-Army, and, apparently, a molecular biologist. It’s a handy combination. Wes has molecular-biologist work to do tonight, so he spends the day outfitting his sister-in-law, Lucy’s, (Lafenesh Hadera) and niece, Emma’s house with boarded windows, guns, capsaicin spray bottles, etc. etc. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
That night, before the moon comes out, Wes locks all the double gates and then leaves his sister-in-law and niece behind while he begins his mission as a molecular biologist. His boss, Dr James Aranda (Lou Diamond Phillips), has spearheaded the invention of something they call “Moonscreen.” It doesn’t block the moonlight from hitting your skin; instead, it is meant to block any interference from the moonlight on the human genome. As part of the night’s experiments, a group of volunteers and some folks who turned into werewolves the previous year are put into cages and smothered in Moonscreen. Again, nothing could possibly go wrong.
But the moon comes up, and the moonlight begins to cross the land. There are loonies who want to turn into werewolves; there are people who are careless with their moonlight exposure; there are blatant idiots. In other words, there are a lot of werewolves on the street and Lucy and Emma’s house is soon surrounded. But things at the lab are worse. Moonscreen works. At first. Then it really, really does not work, and now the lab is filled with werewolves.
The two stories are compelling. We are worried about Lucy and Emma, and we are hopeful for the possibilities of Moonscreen. Unfortunately, bridging these two stories is Frank Grillo as Wes Marshall. Grillo simply doesn’t have the charisma to pull off Army vet and molecular biologist. Luckily, supporting cast, especially Lou Diamond Phillips, do more than just carry the film. The special effects are also excellent and the werewolves are actually quite terrifying. The transformations into werewolves are equally gross and enthralling.
Bonus features include a number of reasonably deleted scenes.
