In a year (or so) of delays, schedule reshuffling, and buyouts by streaming services, it's all the more impressive that a smaller movie can not only peek through the cracks but can even excel. Nobody would have been surprised if “Werewolves Within” had been dumped onto Netflix or Hulu when everything shut down, and it's a good thing it wasn’t because it likely would have meant that a wonderfully funny and delightfully goofy horror comedy would have fallen through into obscurity.
Starring a cast of character actors and lesser known stars, the cast of “Within” is one of its biggest strengths. From every bit part to the leading roles, everyone has the same winking, knowing delivery required for material this inherently goofy. It helps to strengthen the sense of place in this quiet mountain town, rather than betray it. The back-and-forths and quiet moments of interaction sell the fact that this is a real town with real people living in it.
Sam Richardson (“Veep,” “Detroiters”) is still absolutely the star however. A veteran of the Second City sketch group, Richardson has a clear understanding of how to build a character up with gags and jokes, rather than letting the character just become a vehicle for them. He makes for an endearing lead struggling with his own self-confidence, delivering both expert comedic timing and dramatic chops when it counts.
Meanwhile Milana Vayntrub (“Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors,” “Other Space”) is an absolute scene stealer and competes with Richardson as the film’s best asset. Yes, she was at one point the “AT&T girl” but she clearly has far more acting ability than that moniker would suggest. She, like Richardson, nails the sort of overacting required for a film like this, without ever losing the dramatic thread of the film’s events. The pair also have wonderful chemistry and play off of each other with such delightful and goofy ease.
Writer Mishna Wolff and director Josh Ruben (“SCARE ME,” “Adam Ruins Everything”) have crafted a town that lives right on the razor thin line between being too silly for its own good and too realistic for the silliness to land. This is the sort of the film that really shouldn’t work, but it does because of the commitment to the characters as characters. While it is based on a video game, that game was more of a free form party experience rather than a set narrative anyway, allowing Wolff and Ruben to take the basic premise and run with it. Sure, the characters are all built out of stereotypes, but Wolff clearly worked with each actor to make these stereotypes their own, delivering a cast of memorable characters you care for as the slaughtering starts. Ruben’s experience with groups like CollegeHumor also helps in balancing the exaggerated acting and tone with the suspense provided in the story.
For those coming in expecting a blood bath, you might be surprised at how long it takes for the killing to start. Ruben takes his time, establishing various characters and uneasy relationships so that it truly feels like anyone could be the malicious murderer. There’s a boatload of intrigue and it is a story with a surprising amount of twists and turns. It's rare that a film like this is set up in such a way that the identity of the killer is a mystery, and it's in that aspect that Ruben and Wolff succeed the most. When the reveal comes, it's shocking and unexpected but still makes sense.
An easy comparison to understand the vibe and style of the film immediately is the works of Edgar Wright, specifically the “Three Cornetto” trilogy. The quick cuts and sound effect, the color palette, the over-exaggerated characters, the musical cues and score, and the specific type of black comedy all work just as well here as they ever have in Wright’s features. It's clearly an inspiration, not an imitation, for Ruben and Wolff.
There’s not really much negative to say about this fun, freaky romp in the snowy mountains of Vermont. Sure, it clearly doesn’t have a huge budget; it has its fair share of budget saving effects moments while also still having some equally good ones, but that just means that it comes down to the actors and script to elevate the film and they’re more than up to the task. It's like a mug of cocoa or a roaring fire: it's warm and sweet, even better with some friends along for the ride, and it leaves you wanting more. At just 97 minutes, it's the kind of film that one almost immediately wishes for a sequel to, if for no other reason than to see another spooky tale tackled with the same level of excellent spookiness and goofiness.
“Werewolves Within” is a delightful romp, a fun and somewhat scary film that clearly seeks to entertain above all else. Packed with a cast of committed character actors and two excellent leads, a script choked full of memorable one-liners, and a legitimately effective mystery at its center, “Werewolves Within” might just be the surprise hit of the year. 4.5/5
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