WEREWOLVES
(director/writer: Steven C. Miller; screenwriter: Matthew Kennedy; cinematographer: Brandon Cox; editor: Greg MacLennan; music: James Burkholder, The Newton Brothers; cast: Frank Grillo (Dr. Wesley Marshall), Katrina Law (Dr. Amy Chen), Lifenesh Hadera (Lucy), James Michael Cummings (Cody), Sam Daly (Walter), James Kyson (Myles), Lou Diamond Phillips (Dr. Aranda), Daniel Fernandez (Evan), Lydia Slyslinger (Reagan), Betzaida Landin (Dr. Vasquez), Kamdynn Gary (Emma); Runtime: 94; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Jim Cardwell, Craig Chapman, Sevier Crespo, James Michael, Steven C. Miller, Myles Nestel; Briarcliff Entertainment; 2024)
“A mindless B-film action horror thriller.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
It’s a mindless B-film action horror thriller directed by indie cult filmmaker Steven C. Miller (“Line of Duty”/”First Kill”). It’s saddled with an idiotic script by Matthew Kennedy. The story has been compared favorably by some to The Purge.
The supermoon is turning most of the world’s population into mutant werewolves if they look at it directly for even a second.
The supermoon (the full moon when it comes closest to the Earth) is scheduled to arrive again for one night, and the word is out to stay indoors to be safe. Dr. Wesley Marshall (Frank Grillo) makes sure his sister-in-law Lucy (Ilfenesh Hadera), his late brother’s wife, and niece Emma (Kamdynn Gary), are secure before heading off to work at his job as a molecular biologist. He partners with Dr. Amy Chen (Katrina Law), as they work on an CDC project led by Dr. Aranda (Lou Diamond Phillips). They are testing a new anti-werewolf treatment by exposing several volunteers to the lunar event, who are given a concoction called “moonscreen” for possible protection. Think sunscreen when talking about spraying on the moonscreen.
The new antidote doesn’t work, and the cheesy-looking giant menacing werewolves with devil ears and crocodile-like jaws continue to populate the Earth. Amy and Wesley make their way across a town packed with werewolves, by fighting them off.
Werewolves are attacking Lucy’s house, as their neighbor (James Michael Cummings) paints his face in red, white and blue and becomes a menacing werewolf by looking up at the sky. Wesley arrives in time to protect Lucy.
The absurd film should be a direct-to-video one, whose action scenes are poorly done and its story has no teeth in it to be scary. It’s the kind of film you may watch when you have time to kill and will watch anything.
Only that the great Frank Grillo is in it prevents it from getting a D in my book.
REVIEWED ON 12/22/2024 GRADE: C-
dennisschwartzreviews.com