‘Werewolves Within’ (review)

I find it harder and harder to find movies that I find “fun.”

I watch a lot of stuff, but to be honest, I find myself more and more craving nothing more than entertainment from a movie. With the exception of the phenomenal Ted Lasso, I haven’t watched anything in some time that makes me want to rewatch it immediately.

Then comes Werewolves Within.

First thing, I love werewolf movies.  They are unquestionably my favorite movie monster.

Second, ensemble who-dunnits are also a favorite trope.

Third, I know nothing about video games post-Tetris.  And even that I came to late.

So, when a film based on a video game that had I never heard of starring an ensemble cast trying to solve a mystery with werewolves came to my attention, I was more than a little intrigued.

Werewolves Within is basically Knives Out meets The Howling.

Starring a stellar ensemble cast led by Sam Richardson (Veep, Detroiters) and Milana Vayntrub (This is Us, Lily in the AT&T commercials), Werewolves Within is one of the most joyful movie watching experiences that I’ve had in some time.

Richardson plays Finn, a forest ranger and the newest resident to the small town of Beaverfield.  Befriending postal worker Cecily (Vayntrub), the two find themselves trapped with several of the town’s more colorful residents snowed in together in a local inn. A proposed gas pipeline has created divisions among these people and the tempers and trust are both bordering on the edge.

And one of them might very well be a werewolf.

From there the film takes off.

Successfully providing equal parts of silly and suspense, director Josh Ruben never holds back from providing an extra comic beat or a sudden jump cut, keeping the viewer on their toes. Charming, suspenseful, and ultimately satisfying Werewolves Within is likely to gain a cult audience and deservedly so.

Werewolves Within is now playing in theaters and on Digital HD

******
Produced by Sam Richardson, Jason Altman, Margaret Boykin,
Andrew Lieberman, Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner
Written by Mishna Wolff
Based on Werewolves Within by Red Storm Entertainment
Directed by Josh Ruben
Starring Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil,
Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus, Catherine Curtin, Wayne Duvall,
Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne Jackson,
Michaela Watkins, Glenn Fleshler, Anni Krueger