Werewolves Within is a perfect example of how to make a movie based on a video game. More comedy than horror, this whodunit movie delivers the laughs with a few jump scares. It feels like a perfect blend between Knives Out and Clue with just enough horror sprinkled throughout to lift you off your seat a few times.
BALLS! It only took a few minutes to suck me into this one. The characters are over-the-top, lovable, a little crazy, and just boat loads of fun. The story crafted by Mishna Wolff is loaded with misdirection, red herrings, and other clever moments which confound you in your attempts to guess who or what the killer is.
The film’s setting is a snowy little town about to get, as we say in Canada, hammered with a snowstorm, and most of the small town evacuates leaving behind only the cast of characters we follow throughout the film. As the storm rages on, the road is wiped out by an avalanche and power is lost, also knocking out cell service and internet.
Sam Richardson (Finn), an optimistic and cheerful park ranger, gets transferred to Beaverfield and quickly makes friends with the towns mail carrier, Cecily (Milana Vayntrub), who is also new to town. She takes Finn around town and introduces us to our main cast, which is rounded out by Michael Chernus, Michaela Watkins, Cheyenne Jackson, Harvey Guillén, Geroge Basil, Anni Krueger, Sarah Burns, Wyane Duvall, Chaterine Curtin, Rebecca Henderson and Glenn Fleshler. Each actor plays their characters to perfection.
We need more Milana Vayntrub on screen. She steals nearly every scene she is.
The mysterious events begin to occur after Trisha’s (Michaela Watkins) beloved pooch is snatched off her extendable leash during a late-night bio break. Finn is awoken by the hysterics as the main players congregate at the mansh.
As the night intensifies, the humour gets better as does the mystery. While not all comedy-horror mixes work well, this one does as it focuses more on the humour and mystery and intertwines the horror as opposed to being a horror with comedy elements much like Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead.
If you pay close enough attention, you will be able to solve this whodunnit, but it is crafted so well you’ll second, third and maybe even fourth guess yourself until the reveal.
Werewolves Within is one of my favourite movies so far this year. I look forward to more movies from director Josh Ruben.
Werewolves WIthin is available on IFC Films Unlimited July 2nd.
