Werewolf by Night

Werewolf by Night retains the MCU's trademark humour for better and for worse and would've definitely benefited from a longer run time but it remains a great exercise in genre with a clear love for classic monster movies and has a blast going to more violent ends than usual.

Gael García Bernal brings the heart and clumsy charm to the proceedings whilst Laura Donnelly is the more stoic one with some solid dry wit to balance it out and Harriet Sansom Harris absolutely chews the scenery to great effect.

The use of black and white combined with the added film grain and cigarette burns is really impressive and enhances the experience. It also really helps it standout in an increasingly crowded and overly familiar universe.

Michael Giacchino's direction is amazing, especially for a debut. It's so artistically composed in its striking imagery and skillfully controlled symphonies of violence. Giacchino's score is also excellent, instantly evocative and grandiose in all the right ways.

I haven't been terribly impressed by recent MCU entries but this is the best thing they've done since Multiverse of Madness.(I was disappointed due to my own expectations as well but still liked it). I love the hybrid feel of 80' Halloween special meets old black and white monster movie. It has a little intentional camp and cheese to it which actually works for the genre crossing and it spares us the excessive comedy the MCU is fond of shoving down our throats in every single thing they do lately. This one is stylish and entertaining and paced just right for its just under one hour run time. If for no other reason those who enjoyed the old late 70's early 80's Halloween specials on network tv should check this out as a nice throwback to that era. It is fun without relying on being FUNNY every moment. Please stick with this formula a little more and let a darker side of the MCU thrive as an alternative to the mainstream materials which have become so cookie cutter and joke oriented. Werewolf By Night is a win and proof that you CAN still put out something different.

Werewolf by Night was an unexpected addition to the Marvel canon, and a welcome one at that. It was directed by Michael Giacchino, an Oscar winning composer making his directorial debut. He also composes the special's score, and it's some of his best work. Giacchino's love of classic monster movies is evident throughout the film, especially at the beginning. It has 1930s/40s title cards at the beginning, and the music is very reminiscent of the classic horror films. Perhaps the best homage is the use of practical effects rather than CGI, which the monsters movies back then exemplified. There are some downsides. The classic effect does begin to wear off after a while, and then it will feel like you're watching a Marvel movie with a black and white filter. The writing was okay. There's still cringeworthy Marvel humor. But given how cookie cutter Marvel movies have become, something as unique as Werewolf by Night is a more than welcome addition to the MCU canon.

This was a pretty short movie, i actually thought it would turn out to be a series but apparently it was a one time deal.

Yes man thing was amazing and probably the best character in the whole movie.

I was not aware of this side of the marvel universe with classic monsters, and monster hunters this was fairly new to me.

Its a very well packed hour with lots happening, the hunters are for the most part skilled at what they do.

The only complain with the special effects is the werewolf itself, they could have at least made it look terrifying. Think of 1987 series Werewolf the costume back then was amazing.

But all in all it was a great watch.

Master monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone is dead. Various monster hunters have been summoned to Bloodstone Manor. Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal) and Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly) are two hunters. One will inherit the powerful Bloodstone. There is a trial. The hunter who kills the monster wins.

The MCU is taking a side trip. It's a throwback to old black and white horror. It has some fun. It has some horror. It has some camp. It's not directly connected to the main MCU stories. I hope that they do more of this and that it remains a side story. I like both Bernal and Donnelly. There is good potential here.