Werewolf by Night: Review

Marvel's Werewolf by Night may have a good solid concept, but this so-called take on the horror films of the 1930s and 1940s is more interested in simply copying moments rather than understanding them and making them Marvel's own.

Set in black and white and on a dark night, it's the tale of a secret cabal of monster hunters who are called to Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader, Ulysses Bloodstone.

The tradition goes that if one of them can wrestle the ancient Bloodstone from a creature, they will become its owner and heir.

But treachery is afoot and not everyone is who they say they are.

It may only be just a touch over 50 minutes, but Marvel's Werewolf by Night really doesn't have enough meat on its bones to be anything substantial.

In parts the special is more interested in delivering well-choreographed fight scenes between characters and is less interested than doing something new and creative in the space.

When it's not solely fight scenes, the pace slows to an almost soporific state as it becomes a talkfest as it follows its "the known universe with its heroes and marvels, but what of the darkness, this is where monsters dwell" ethos to a tee.

Werewolf by Night may be high on atmospherics , but mostly it becomes about the OST orchestrated jump scares, some of the laziest tropes of the genre out there.

It's primarily a hollow monster experience, that's beautifully scored but just repeats tenets and scenes from horror films without adding more or giving them a unique twist.

Not everything Marvel does will work, and while it's sometimes supposed to be applauded for trying new things, this latest thuds stunningly to the ground despite all the best intentions of everyone involved.

Werewolf by Night starts streaming on Disney+ on Friday October 7