Universal Studios has a long history with the werewolf, from the very first werewolf film (Werewolf of London) and the highly regarded Wolfman of Lon Chaney fame to the recent (and rather underrated) remake of the latter. Now Universal has added a new beast to the pack with Werewolf: The Beast Among Us.
Expectations were low on this viewer's part going into the film, but ultimately I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there are some weaknesses. This is clearly a low-budget production, the main character is a walking anachronism (he seems to think he's playing in a Western), and overall the movie has the look and feel of a Syfy flick, with all that implies.
But nonetheless, the movie is a success. The setting is well-realized with lots of Gothic atmosphere, and while most of the action revolves around a team of mercenary werewolf hunters the heart of the story resides with a pair of young lovers who find their lives turned upside down by the werewolf which is preying upon their fellow townspeople. The town proves to harbor more than its fair share of skeletons in the closet, some of which prove to be very deadly. Special effects may not be cutting edge, but they are pretty effective, and the werewolf itself fairly convincing and malevolent-looking. The script is rather more ambitious than it may first appear, and in true Universal fashion even manages to turn the climax into a homage to classic "monster mash" films from the studio's glorious past.
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us may not be a new classic, but it's no turkey, either. Thanks to a story that manages to include a few neat twists while still holding to the conventions of its genre, backed up by decent production design and special effects, Universal's newest werewolf packs a surprisingly mean bite.
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