The 2012 film Werewolf: The Beast Among Us directed by Louis Morneau (Bats, Retroactive) is entertaining hokum. It has a European setting that features a slight nod to the werewolf legend of old. Universal’s Larry Talbot, as played by Lon Chaney Jr. The film even features a character quoting a line from the 1941 classic film The Wolf Man which declares:
Even a man who is pure in heart
and says his prayers by night
may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
and the autumn moon is bright.
– Gwen The Wolf Man (1941)
Rather interestingly, this film is also from Universal. Only in this case it is Universal 1440 Entertainment. It used to be Universal Home Entertainment. This straight to video production joins others on the Universal assembly line of cheaply made films. Each film with one or two “names” to promote the movie.
This time it is Irish actor Stephen Rea and Nia Peeples who have the least amount of screen time. Both are crucial, sort of, to the plot and have been cast to give the feature a little gravitas.
Nia, has a solid fan base from the soap The Young and the Restless. She also plays Emily Fields’ mother in Pretty Little Liars. She has little more to do than Rea in the film. Her character does get to play the sacrifice card though.
The story of Werewolf: The Beast Among Us.
Surviving villagers buy the services of a Great Hunter, Charles played by Ed Quinn. His profession has been passed on from his father. A werewolf has exterminated an entire village and is moving through the area killing freely. A young man Daniel, Guy Wilson, is studying with the local doctor (Rea) and he wants to help. Daniel’s mother Vadoma (Peebles) has a secret and she meets with the Doc to get medication for a condition.
Charles and his band of hunters take on the challenge of killing the creature. Suspicion shifts between various characters until finally the guilty party is found and dealt with. All in all this is an entertaining little movie that does not disappoint. It does, however, feel a little old fashioned.
Middle of the Road
The film is like one of the old Drive-In second, or even third, features. The films that ran before one was allowed to see the main picture. Classically referred to as ‘B’ films “Werewolf” sits easily in this category.
For all intents and purposes, the story, its action and the storyline could be termed middle of the road. There is enough action to keep things moving. More than enough blood and gore to hint at horror and no sex at all. Although there is a local brothel, Daniel’s mother works there. The kills by the beast are gory, but the camera never lingers over entrails or pools of blood. Wounds are not focussed on either.
Let’s Talk
Rather oddly, for all this lack of attention to the bloodletting, corpses are never given a close up. Yet the film got a rating of ‘R’ which really is confusing. There is no nudity. Despite the MPAA saying that there is “bloody violence and grisly images throughout,” the film itself is pretty tame.
The film has a cast that has come predominately from television. There are some better known than others based on what is popular at the moment. Steven Bauer for example. He plays Avi on Ray Donovan and is quickly recognizable despite his character’s eye patch. This does not harm the film at all as each performer acquitted themselves very well.
In terms of interest and pacing the movie does not bore or drag. As a bonus the reveal at the end, while not surprising, is different.
The Verdict
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us does feel a little too tame for true horror. However, the film is good enough that one never feels the urge to turn it off part way through. It is solid fare with good performances. Perhaps the only real complaint is that there was not enough of Peebles or Rea. I can give this one 3.5 out of 5 stars.
The film is available to rent via Amazon Prime and YouTube. While it is not “Larry Talbot” the film is still very watchable. If you have a few dollars to spare, give it a go.
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