Rhi Axtell – Writer

After a brief break from ‘spooky’ topics to complain about AI, I am back today after watching Werewolf By Night on Disney+ for the first time.

The film (short film? It’s 51 minutes long- does that count as short? Medium film, perhaps?) had barely started and, when the Marvel theme started to play but in a minor key and all colour drained from the screen, I knew I was in for something special.

If you don’t know, Werewolf By Night is in black and white for the majority (apart from a few key moments, or if you are watching the colour version). It really leans into the black and white film monster movie tropes. I mean, it’s a story about monster hunters and a werewolf – why wouldn’t you?

And it’s got everything I wanted. Over-the-top acting. Sets which look like they have been built out of polystyrene. A lot of creepy monsters which look like they are Halloween masks. A cheesy monster movie soundtrack wailing throughout to add tension(?). A Scottish monster hunter.

Werewolf By Night knows what it is doing and leans into it. When the werewolf does reveal itself, the film even utilises the black and white aspects to make it (almost) scary.

It also has the Marvel brand of silly, which I know some people find annoying, but I found it quite playful and it didn’t detract or distract from the film.

I don’t know if I want to watch the version in colour. I think the use of black and white in this film brings such a unique and interesting flair to it. It’s a fun homage, and really helps set the tone of the film. Cheesy monster movie.

I was grinning all the way through.

10 spooks out of 10.

See you tomorrow (and look out for werewolves).