Werewolves Within (Josh Ruben, 2021)

A delightful horror comedy

Werewolves Within is one of those movies that I didn’t see coming. I had zero expectations going in yet was won over almost instantly by its effortless charm.

It is a fucking delightful film.

The setup: A remote mountain hamlet has a killer werewolf problem. When a snowstorm hits and an avalanche cuts off the only road out of town (always a handy plot point in horror films) the oddball residents find themselves stranded together — and unsure of who amongst them is the murderous beast.

As far as the plot goes, that’s pretty much it. It’s a trapped-in-a-house-with-a-monster movie, but it feels more like a throwback whodunit than your average creature feature.

The cast of characters includes a variety of archetypes perhaps more expected of a political satire than a horror comedy (there are gay tech bro millionaires, philandering capital-C Conservatives, unashamed rednecks, an antisocial hermit) but Werewolves Within never seems at all interested in going down that route — even with the revelation of a subplot involving a planned gas pipeline which has pitted neighbor against neighbor even before the werewolf struck.

Indeed, protagonist and de facto detective, newcomer Ranger Wheeler is the only Black character in town — a fact that is never mentioned, proof positive then of the film’s disinterest in mining this diverse cast of caricatures for any sort of sociopolitical purpose.

Which is refreshing! Instead, the film is content to revel in the assumptive shortcuts such stock characters enable. This is a gentle film — unassuming, undemanding, and oh-so-easy to enjoy. The first act in particular does a fantastic job of acclimatizing the audience both to the eccentric townsfolk and the film’s overall vibe. It’s quirky, playful horror; a Hallmark Christmas flick by way of Twin Peaks.

Much of the credit goes to the casting of Milana Vayntrub as the film’s second lead — bubbly local mailperson Cecily — who gives Wheeler (and the audience) a tour of the town and introduces its various inhabitants. Vayntrub succeeds in perfectly encapsulating the film’s cheerful tone (despite, y’know, the murders) and manages the impressive balancing act of being both adorable and hot.

Table set, the snowstorm hits, and everyone finds themselves together at the local lodge. There’s another vicious attack (showcasing some of the film’s limited gore) and so it is determined that one of these quirky characters is far more than meets the eye. But who?!?!

If I had one criticism of the film, it is perhaps a little too tame. The gore, when it happens, is startling because it’s so at odds with the rest of the film, which I suspect was intentional. But it also serves to highlight just how dialed down the horror is here. Likewise, things begin to peter out in the film’s third act as everyone goes their own way when, really, the tension and suspense should be continually cranked up for the climax.

Not to matter, the film is still satisfying, but one can only feel a little disappointed that the film’s potential greatness isn’t entirely achieved.

Regardless, Werewolves Within remains a film I would absolutely recommend — and it’s even one that your more horror-adverse partners and family members would likely enjoy. Overall, a very pleasant discovery — and the perfect antidote to the festive period hangover while still feeling appropriately seasonal.