There’s no escaping the night
Marvel Studios’ upcoming television special Werewolf by Night comes to Disney+ this Halloween season and early reviews for the feature describe it as “unique”, “super violent”, and “easily the best thing they’ve done.”
Werewolf by Night follows a lycanthrope superhero who fights evil using the abilities given to him by a curse brought on by his bloodline. The feature sees acclaimed composer Michael Giacchino (Up, Coco, The Incredibles, Rogue: One a Star Wars Story) take on directorial duties for the first time and stars Gael Garcia Bernal as the titular werewolf known as Jack Russell, alongside Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It‘s Eugenie Bondurant also co-stars alongside Harriet Sansom Harris, Kirk Thatcher, Leonardo Nam and Al Hamacher.
News of the studio’s first-ever Halloween special came earlier this month at Disney’s D23 expo, where a trailer (above) for the horror-comedy was released. At first look, Werewolf by Night looked like a nod to the classic monster movies of the early-to-mid 90’s with a campy Marvel twist, and the early reactions support this assumption.
Check out some of the reactions below.
The Marvel Disney+ shows have been a bit all over the map quality wise, but #WerewolfByNight is easily the best thing they’ve done. Yes even better than #MoonKnight (which you all know I loved) pic.twitter.com/JYhwimtJgm
— James Viscardi (@JimViscardi) September 26, 2022
#WerewolfByNight is the most idiosyncratic MCU project since GOTG. As good? No. But it’s a remarkable breath of fresh air to see Marvel try something like this, as its tone and style are VERY MUCH that of the trailer.
More like this, please. Comics are weird. Let’s be weird. 🐺 pic.twitter.com/Z2kCmEYohM
— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) September 26, 2022
loved #werewolfbynight. @m_giacchino knocked it out of the park with his @MarvelStudios directorial debut and hope he's directing again soon. Surprised by how much he got away with and am so happy it's unlike anything else Marvel has done. On @DisneyPlus Oct 7
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/KQf8tp09Uo— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 26, 2022
#WerewolfByNight is the MCU Halloween treat I was hoping for! A delightful ode to the classic monster movies with MCU-level stuntwork, production design & effects. LOVED the dynamic between Gael García Bernal & Laura Donnelly's characters and … pic.twitter.com/6KFGTcxZE9
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) September 26, 2022
I love #WerewolfByNight! The throwback black and white classic horror approach works perfectly for the story and feels so unique within the MCU. It’s an exciting example of how they can push boundaries. The cast are great and I hope to see more of them and of this type of thing. pic.twitter.com/YJoTqmPXWo
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) September 26, 2022
#WerewolfByNight is a classic Hollywood monster movie you won’t want to end. SPOOKY and STRIKING, it’s one of the coolest things EVER to come out of the MCU. @GaelGarciaB is thrilling to watch suppress the beast within. More Jack Russell! What can’t @m_giacchino do at this point? pic.twitter.com/P1AB1702td
— Daniel Baptista – The Movie Podcast (@dbapz) September 26, 2022
I’m excited for more @MarvelStudios Special Presentations because #WerewolfByNight had me howling at the moon with its horrifying visuals & gripping story. @M_Giacchino promises to scare you & give you something fresh and bold. @DisneyPlus @DisneyPlusCA pic.twitter.com/oIEFPba8pY
— Shahbaz • The Movie Podcast (@shayhbaz) September 26, 2022
Our secret screening was #WerewolfByNight & it was rad as hell. Totally feels like Marvel took a time machine back to the 1940s to create a badass horror/adventure movie. So many amazing nods to classic horror & so much more too. What a fun surprise! #FantasticFest pic.twitter.com/3cCY8NBj25
— Heatherface Wixson (@MMEFXBook is available now!) (@thehorrorchick) September 26, 2022
Adored @m_giacchino’s #WerewolfByNight, a delicious Halloween treat that is funny, violent, and full of wonderful new additions to the MCU. (There are also some great surprises so watch out for spoilers!) Can we get an all-monster Avengers? Gael Garcia Bernal can lead the team 🐺 pic.twitter.com/Iu3TLws4is
— Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) September 26, 2022
Just how Werewolf by Night ties into the extended MCU is still unknown, but some sort of connection to Moon Knight and the more supernatural elements seems the most likely scenario. Issue #32 of the Werewolf by Night comic series actually features the debut of Moon Knight, so could a surprise appearance from Oscar Isaac be in the cards?
Werewolf by Night lands on Disney+ on October 7th.