You know the film. It’s a film you have never heard of. The cast might be composed of actors you know and love or complete unknowns. A documentary that sounds interesting about a topic you might like. You stumble across it on streaming and wonder if it will be worth two hours of your time. This series will be devoted to reviewing films like these, the strange items that pop up when you are looking for a flick on the streaming service of your choice. This is “We Found It On Streaming”
During our celebration of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary, we will be devoting this feature to films found on streaming with some ties to the sketch program. This installment covers an indie horror film with former SNLer Michaela Watkins in a supporting role.
FILM: Werewolves Within
Release Date: June 25, 2021
Run Time: 97 Minutes.
Streaming Service(s): Shudder
Rating: Rated R for some bloody violence, sexual references and language throughout
When I decided that I would once again do a review of a horror film every week in October leading up to Halloween in this feature and having them be films featuring Saturday Night Live alums, I didn’t know how hard it would be to find four films that met that criteria. Not a lot of horror films want to cast comedians, I guess. And I was so focused on the stars that I didn’t realize that two of my candidates were directed by the same man, Josh Ruben (he directed the film I reviewed last week, Scare Me). So, we accidentally have a little Josh Ruben film festival here in this feature. And, spoiler warning, this film is much better than his last one.
Finn Wheeler (Sam Richardson) is a forest ranger so nice that the strongest expletive he uses is “Heavens to Betsy.” He has been assigned to Beaverfield. VT, a small town in an uproar due to plans to build an oil pipeline through town. He is there to ensure that the developer Sam Parker (Wayne Duvall) doesn’t build his pipeline on public lands. Finn is introduced to local mail carrier Cecily Moore (Milana Vayntrub) and she takes him on a tour of town, introducing him to its colorful residents: kindly lodge owner Jeanine Sherman (Catherine Curtin), white trash couple Marcus (George Basil) and Gwen (Sarah Burns), crazed dog momma Trisha (Watkins) and her lothario husband Glen (Michael Chernus), rich, gay couple the Wolfsons (Cheyenne Jackson, Harvey Guillén) and the reclusive Emerson Flint (Glenn Fleshler).
Tensions rise amongst those who support the pipeline and those that don’t until some creature eats Trisha’s dog. When other victims of the creature start turning up, world renown environmental scientist Dr. Jane Ellis (Rebecca Henderson), in town to protest the pipeline, analyzes hairs found on the body and determines that the victims were killed by a werewolf. This causes the townspeople to turn on each other, accusing one another of being a lycanthrope. It’s up to Finn to keep the peace long enough so he can figure out who the killer is, and if they are a werewolf at all.
Werewolves Within is a film that like to play with the audience’s expectations. That isn’t always a complement but here it is, because its swerves are so witty and well thought out you can’t help but appreciate them. Loosely adapted from the VR video game of the same name by Mishna Wolff, the film balances the tone between humor and horror very well. A lot of this has to do with Ruben, who has a feel for when to crank up the tension and when to let loose with the laughs. This is his second feature, and both feature characters being stranded in a log-built dwelling in a remote location on a snowy night in Northeastern U.S. when the lights go out. I hope he doesn’t get pigeonholed into that incredibly narrow avenue of filmmaking. Seriously though, I would like to see more of his work in comedy-horror film genre. He has a real talent for them.
He is helped out by the cast, which is excellent from top to bottom. Richardson and Vayntrub have an adorkable type of chemistry with each other. I am particularly impressed by Vayntrub. You, like me, might know her best as Lily from the AT&T commercials, and not be familiar with her other work. She gives off Winona Ryder vibes in this role. And if you know how high a regard I have for Ms. Ryder, you know that is one of the highest complements I could give her. Richardson plays his nice guy role very well, without ever becoming sappy or over the top. As the moral center of the film, if he became a caricature, the film would suffer for it. But Richardson’s take on the character makes the audience want to root for him, a must in any horror film.
If I have one criticism of the film, it’s that it is a tad predictable. Yes, it does surprise in a number of ways, delightfully so, but I figured out who the werewolf was fairly early on. If you are paying attention, you will too. This did nothing to dampen my enjoyment of the film. So, what if I knew where the movie was heading, the ride to it was so enjoyable that I didn’t care.
Werewolves Within is a fun film if you would like a little laugh in your Halloween movie watching. You’ll get a bit of gore and a truckload of suspense, but also a whole lot of funny stuff too. The film is an excellent blend of comedy and horror, and if you are looking for a palate cleanser in your gory Halloween movie marathon, then I recommend this film to you highly.
Have you found a film on streaming that you’d like us to look at? Leave it in the comments and it might appear in a future installment of this feature.
