What is Werewolf by Night?
Werewolf by Night started as a comic back in 1972. The original comic follows one of the cast members; I don’t want to spoil who, as it gives away too much. In 2020 a reboot of the comic began, focusing on a different protagonist than the original. This short film gathers a group of monster hunters who are each hoping to become the lord or leader of the monster hunters. Think a bunch of Van Helsing types, but for more than just vampires. They are tasked with hunting down a monster in a maze, and attached to the monster is something of importance.
Who’s in Werewolf by Night?
I don’t want to include any spoilers for characters, so let’s talk actors. Harriet Sansom Harris plays Verussa in the movie. She’s had roles in Adams Family Values, Nurse Betty, and Desperate Housewives. Gael García Bernal plays Jack. He was born in Guadalajara and has been in films like The Motorcycle Diaries. Lastly, Laura Donnelly plays Elsa. She’s been in some big shows like Outlander and The Nevers.
Is Werewolf by Night required MCU viewing?
Before the film plays, a title card calls Werewolf by Night a special presentation. The film is not quite film length, spanning about 50 minutes in total. I guess that Werewolf by Night will not have any long-term significance to the overall MCU. We may see a handful of these characters show up further down the line, and we may also see the MacGuffin of the film show up as well; who knows. But the film does not have the same feel as the I Am Groot shorts that came out earlier this year.
Is the film scary?
The two-word answer is not really. The longer answer is Werewolf by Night takes its inspiration from classic monster movies. Films like 1941’s The Wolf Man is a prime examples.
Closing thoughts
Werewolf by Night is the least MCU show made to date. There are zero references to any other MCU property, at least nothing that caught my attention. But that doesn’t mean it should be skipped over; quite the opposite. This film is not required viewing for Marvel fans, but everything about it is top-notch. The acting, score, visuals, and run-time make it a must-see. It may be short compared to other Marvel films, but it packs a punch.
