Much to my disbelief, it just kept getting better and better. By the finale, it did what everyone hoped would happen and stepped into the ranks of rare horror excellence. Screenwriter Kennedy is able to implement a worldwide feel to his werewolf apocalypse instead of falling into the stuck-in-your-neighborhood feeling of the first Purge movie. The amount of world-building Kennedy has done is enriched by many mysterious elements he puts to excellent use. It is also an instant franchise, as there are still many avenues to explore in this intriguing concept. The dramatic possibilities of deciding whether to be the hunter or the hunted are fascinating. Who out there decides to allow themselves to turn into werewolves, and why? Which side would you want to be on during an apocalypse? Here, you would have a choice.
Director Miller sports a slick style that would fit perfectly on a tentpole. The pizazz rolled out for the action showcases shows expertise in how to make a picture feel like a parade. Everything is calculated to determine how it will impact the largest screen possible. This includes the stars of the show: the big, buttery werewolves designed and created by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. These are handcrafted werewolves, made with love and care in order to scare the pants off you. You cannot help but admire the detail and ferocity of the monster work, as these are really big ones.
“…implements a worldwide feel to his werewolf apocalypse, avoiding the stuck-in-your-neighborhood trap.”
It is another moment that I wish I had children of my own to take to movies. While absolutely horrifying, this is nothing a sturdy 9-year-old couldn’t handle. Miller has made a movie like they did in the golden age of the late 70s to early 80s. It is raw entertainment allowed to run amok. Werewolves also signal a new front in the war over what constitutes a Christmas movie. No, it is not set during the holidays, but it is being released during the season in theaters, and it definitely centers on family and a desire for world peace.
It also is the most Christmas-looking movie in the multiplex, as Miller employs a fantastic candy-colored lighting scheme across the entire picture. All the twinkling lights that look good on trees look great on werewolves. This is an indie masterwork that has the big puffy balls to swing to name itself simply Werewolves. It is that good.
"…the best werewolf movie since The Howling."
