THE PREMISE:

"Two scientists try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after being touched by a super-moon the year before." 

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

The new Frank Grillo horror-action movie Werewolves delivers true, if entirely schlocky, speculative fiction that explores the threat of the next pandemic. Of course, this particular thought process posits the entirely ridiculous concept if said pandemic were to produce… werewolves. What follows is a man versus beast battle where bravado and bullets supersede common sense. Yes, Werewolves is a totally entertaining if brazenly stupid movie that allows the animal in all of us to enjoy a howlingly-fun, shoot-’em up of a movie. 

Set one year after an uncanny supermoon event where millions were transformed into werewolves, humanity prepares for the next supermoon. A team from the CDC has developed a “moon lotion” with an SPF of 5000 that blocks moonlight, preventing the lycanthropic transformation. During human trials, naturally, something goes wrong. The wolves are free and it's up to microbiologist Frank Grillo and his granite pecs (speculative fiction, everyone) to hunt down the packs and see to his family’s safety. 

For such a cornball premise, Werewolves has plenty of flair. Directed by Steven C. Miller, the movie has a kinetic energy that keeps the action moving. The wolfen f/x work, much of which was practical, is both creepy and believable, and packs a digitally-enhanced transformation sequence that would certainly bring a snarl to f/x guru Rick Baker. 

Light on plot, heavy on action, Miller enjoys the spectacle of it all and obviously graduated with honors from JJ Abrams’ class on “The Use of the Lens Flare in Modern Day Cinematography.” He goes an extra step to ensure that there are flashing strobe lights. In every. Single. Scene. Photosensitive viewers: here is your warning to wear sunglasses.

Miller, and writer Matthew Kennedy, undoubtedly know their audience and cater in the shock and gore that will please many video-game fans. After all, Werewolves simply plays out like a first-person shooter where Grillo and his small team that keeps getting smaller advance to each level. Truly, there is no crossover appeal with the Sony Pictures Classics legions here. Not even a little. 

Grillo, and his biceps, makes an enjoyable leading man. His presence is both commanding and charming; he is totally the star here. Actually, the cast as a whole elevates the b-movie stakes into a B+ presentation. Genre actress Katrina Law and Heroes’ James Kyson lend entirely-too short support to the implausible narrative, while ever-lovin’ Lou Diamond Phillips is on hand to  chew up as much scenery as those wolves.

Perhaps Werewolves’ only true downfall - plot aside of course - is that the werewolves themself, although impressive and strong, lack any defining originality. They are faceless monsters that could be easily interchangeable with anything scary that goes bump in the night, be that vampires, zombies, xenomorphs, or Harvey Weinstein

Miller, Grillo, and the production team have created an enjoyably-nonsensical 93-min adventure that, even if momentarily, has you thinking that the next pandemic would be a lot cooler if it included werewolves.