[Rating: Solid Rock Fist Up]
In theaters and On Demand now.
Like fries and ice cream, werewolves and comedy are an unlikely pair that always does the satisfying trick. The absurdity of a half-man half-wolf that runs around naked howling at the moon eating anyone in its path has transcended its tragic roots and become a staple in the monster comedy sub-genre. 40 years after American Werewolves ran around London becoming the pinnacle of the monster comedy(Sorry Abbott and Costello) director Josh Ruben brings big Lycan laughs to the screen in his new film Werewolves Within. Based on the popular deception party and video game of the same name, Werewolves Within is a hysterical whodunit on the back of an electric ensemble known for their scene-stealing supporting work.
Stepping into the spotlight Sam Richardson plays Finn Wheeler, a Forest Ranger with a kind heart who strives to help others to cope with his own insecurities. Finn’s gentle and caring nature is immediately challenged once he arrives for a new job in the small Northern town of Beaverfield, a community full of eccentric selfish characters. Finn’s only solace comes from Cecily (Milana Vayntrub) the town’s mail carrier who offers the only semblance of normalcy in the midst of madness. As Finn and Cecily’s relationship begins to blossom, disaster strikes as one resident’s dog goes missing in the middle of the night and a body is found under the local inn. The film holds true to the game’s deceptive style as it quickly becomes apparent that no is as they seem.
Ruben continues to make his mark in the comedy-horror scene with a strong follow-up to his 2020 directorial debut Scare Me. Building upon his pure comedy in a horror setting, Werewolves Within showcases his growth as a comedic director. Avoiding the tonal inconsistencies that can come from genre-blending, Ruben lets the comedy and cast drive the film without relying on horror traits. Even the scardiest of scaredy cats can enjoy Werewolves Within as the freight is turned down low. This is all easily made up for by the comedic strength of Mishna Wolff’s lively script. The film’s goofy presence allows for a playful tone to perfectly contrast the dark subject matter, leading to exhilarating results.
Going further to prove his directing chops, Ruben borrows a trick or two from Edgar Wright’s playbook to not waste a second of screen-time. A few scenes and transitions could have been plucked straight out of Wright’s Shaun of the Dead just with a new cast CGI’d in. These notable similarities do sacrifice some of the film’s originality but make sense given the film’s limited setting and plot. Ruben’s influences only make the film more visually appealing, which is much preferred to a bland traditional style that we see time and time again. The biggest critique is that the film loses this style during its climax as it focuses on its chaotic storytelling.
A great comedy depends on a greater cast and Werewolves Within delivers across the board. Each character from Trisha (Michaela Watkins) an ultra-conservative crafter, Joaquim (Harvey Guillen) and Devon (Cheyenne Jackson) a rich spiritual couple, Marcus (George Basil) and Gwen (Sarah Burns) the locals who will do anything to make a buck, come to life through their confrontation with one another. Wolff develops these characters not by showcasing their own merits but instead by establishing what and who they are against. Playing heightened versions of someone that would be found in a small mountain town, each actor performs as if they were portraying an original SNL character that the audience adores.
While the ensemble works brilliantly in harmonious dysfunction with one another, no one outperforms Richardson and Vayntrub in the leading roles. The chemistry the two have with one another contradicts their blunt pairing in the plot but the performers hit what many actors strive for in capturing the magic of two strangers genuinely hitting it off. While their relationship is not fully explored in the film, their bits of interaction offers the film’s best moments of sincerity. Both actors are instantly likable and though they are surrounded by the absurd, their intentions for one another always remain believable leading up to the film’s somewhat predictable but still satisfying grand finale.
The film’s most noticeable blunder comes from the poorly handled pacing of the first act. While exposition is crucial in a “who done it” mystery to accurately portray the cast of characters, there is not enough time given to the mystery itself and the werewolf thrills attached with it. When the “Werewolf” is in the title, it shouldn’t take almost an hour for the film’s action to kick in. The delayed build is effective in establishing the exaggerated characters in a fairly simple plot, yet in doing this the film rushes to the finish line in a short 97-minute runtime.
Werewolves Within is a joyous addition to the collection of monster comedies and is more importantly a much-needed contribution to the barren wasteland of modern comedies. Its themes of thoughtfulness and helpful neighbors are a refreshing watch in a sea of cynicism. As Richardson exclaims at the end of the film “I’m a nice person and there’s nothing wrong with that” it speaks to the film as a whole being a simple nice escape from reality. Playing like a well-crafted sketch with a big budget, Werewolves Within is the perfect film to turn on as you turn your brain off and simply enjoy the ride.
Jonah Desneux is a recent graduate from the University of Missouri with a BA in Film Studies. It’s baffling that someone who just spent four years writing film paper after film paper would immediately want to write some more, but hey, he must love it! Along with writing about film Jonah enjoys writing and performing sketch comedy in Columbia and Kansas City.
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