TL;DR – A delightful romp through times past, made with the techniques of today, Now in Color.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that viewed this film.

Werewolf by Night in Color Review –

Last year, we reviewed Werewolf by Night, an experiment and, honestly, one of the best things that the MCU put out on Disney+ … and much to my despair, no one watched it. Well, they are taking a second crack at the project by presenting it “In Color”, so on this final day of the spooky season, it feels like the perfect time to jump back in and see if the colour has changed anything. To save you searching, we will begin with the review we wrote for it the first time out and then look to see if the “In Color” changed anything.     

So to set the scene, we open on a dark night in a mansion deep in the woods where Ulysses Bloodstone’s (Richard Dixon) funeral is about to take place. All across the globe, the hunters gathered because this was both a funeral and a hunt. Whoever of the death dealers wins the ceremonial hunt gets the coveted Bloodstone, a relic of immeasurable power. But one of the hunters may actually be the hunted? 

What I will give Werewolf by Night is that it knows how to set a mood right from the get-go. I am a sucker for changed opening credits, and the shift to the black-and-white right from the start, with the era-appropriate lighting crackling across, was a nice touch. Then there was the slow walk into the funeral as we followed Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), observing all the ill omens attached to every wall. Before Verussa Bloodstone (Harriet Sansom Harris) arrives and steals the limelight with the talking corpse of Ulysses Bloodstone, make it all that much creepier.

Much of the production has that vibe of those old monster films full of vampires, mummies, werewolves and more. However, I am glad they were more restrained on the added noise, which is so often added in excess. The set design is reminiscent of those old films, almost like an Escher painting but with a garden rather than stairs. Then, there is the music, both diegetic and non-diegetic. I was expecting the music to be good. It is Michael Giacchino, after all. But wow, did he nail it. The haunting half-heard choral lits, the blaring brass, the screaming strings. Also, the flaming-tuba guy (David Silverman) is giving it significant Mad Max Fury Road energy.

The narrative also works, as it needs to set up the required scenario and then be a jumping-off point for all action. A bunch of hunters, Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), and Ulysses’ estranged daughter must fight a monster to claim a prize. It is the last person standing, so of course, it makes sense to take each other out first. The one area where they update is a more modern style of action choreography and a bunch more blood than you would expect for Disney+. Also, I liked the monster design that we got to see, with all its details. Thankfully, the cast completely plays into the genre and film, making it a delight when they chew all the scenery.

Now, let us talk about the new version “in Color”, and from the start, I am glad they did not go completely natural with the colour palate. That would not have suited a film that includes a flaming tuba being played. It also suits the setting of the work, with its more 1960s vibe with many contrasting colour combinations of green and orange, which makes a pleasant change of pace from the recent prevalence of orange and blue or neon pastels everywhere. I had been concerned that this would just be a quick conversion job, but that was not the case, and while I think the first version hits a little harder, if this gets people to watch, then fantastic. Sure, The Wizard of Oz musical cue at the end doesn’t quite have the same impact as in the first film, and they could have done a bit more with the blood, but that is only a tiny part of the proceedings.

In the end, do we recommend Werewolf by Night in Colour? Yes, yes, we do. It is just as good with colour as it was in black and white because it is clear that the creative team put a lot of work into getting the vibe right. Honestly, it is still a fun romp and one of the best things that the MCU put out last Phase, and if you missed it the first time, well now is the perfect time to jump in. If you liked Werewolf by Night, I would recommend to you Freaky.   

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Werewolf by Night?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Werewolf by Night
Directed by – Michael Giacchino
Story by – Heather Quinn
Screenplay by – Heather Quinn & Peter Cameron
Based on – Comics by Marvel Comics
Music by – Michael Giacchino
Cinematography by – Zoë White
Edited by – Jeffrey Ford
Production/Distribution Companies – Marvel Studios & Disney+
Starring – Gael García Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris, Kirk R. Thatcher, Eugenie Bondurant, Leonardo Nam, Daniel J. Watts, Al Hamacher, Carey Jones, Jeffrey Ford, David Silverman, Rick Wasserman, Richard Dixon & Erik Beck
Rating – Australia: MA15+;