This film will open in theaters across the country on June 25th and then be available on all streaming rental platforms on July 2nd.
Despite being a visually-oriented media format filled with constant action, the video game has had a difficult time being adapted to film. While a few attempts have worked reasonably well (often involving an original title invented for the story), cinematic history is littered with flops like Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Wing Commander, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Need for Speed and Hitman: Agent 47, to name but a few. The latest attempt is Werewolves Within, a modestly budgeted feature based on the multiplayer PlayStation VR game. Thankfully, this movie avoids some of the trappings of other adaptations. It focuses on character and comedy, resulting in a fun and enjoyable little flick.
Finn (Sam Richardson) is an exceedingly nice, put-upon forest ranger who arrives in the tiny village of Beaverfield to start a new job. He quickly learns that the dozen-or-so eccentric locals are at loggerheads over personal issues, as well as a major gas pipeline about to be built through the town. Another recent arrival, postal worker Cecily (Milana Vayntrub), fills Finn in on the oddball residents. Things begin to go south when an avalanche blocks the road out of town. Soon after, power is cut and visible claw marks are left behind on the generators. When a torn-up body is recovered, the group take refuge at the town inn and attempt to figure out what to do next. Panic leads to accusations between locals and outrageous conspiracy theories. Finn must mediate and calm the angry group in order to save them all from the threat.
The emphasis here is on comedy and the big characters are written in broad strokes. This includes a well-armed survivalist-type, country yokels, conservatives desperate to profit off of the pipeline project and a brainy environmental researcher. Thankfully, some of the exaggerated comments made by characters as they bicker are funny, as are the numerous sight gags. One of the locals is dog-obsessed, leading to some amusingly bizarre artwork around their home when the characters try to take refuge there. Of course, given the over-the-top approach, the humor could have fallen flat, but the small cast interact well and deliver their lines with considerable aplomb. Richardson is a very likable protagonist, earning a lot of good will from viewers as he reacts to the increasingly unstable crowd around him.
Admittedly, not everything in the film works spectacularly. While done for the sake of laughs, some of the characters do make questionable and/or terrible decisions in order to further the plot along. This is another reason why the performers should be praised for being compelling enough to overcome some of the more by-the-numbers plot elements. It seems that no matter how silly they appear, the performers are clearly having a great deal of fun, which can’t help but be contagious.
Given the small setting and limited resources, the technical specs are also exemplary. The outside environments look picturesque, but isolated and chilling. And there is a warm, fiery nighttime glow to the indoor photography that contrasts nicely with the horrors occurring at the inn. It takes a while for the lead characters to take action, but the showdowns towards the close are punchy and entertaining to watch.
The end results aren’t quite as memorable as the best of recent horror/comedies like You’re Next or Ready or Not. However, the movie is still an enjoyably fun ride. And the story doesn’t require viewers to be familiar with the media upon which it is based (perhaps that’s why it ends up making a stronger impression on viewers than other films like it). Werewolves Within is an above-average reimagining of the video game. It proves that if handled with care, these kinds of features can hit the sweet spot and entertain.