Written by Heather Quinn And Peter Cameron
Directed by Michael Giacchino
Verussa (to everyone): "For tonight, it's every hunter for themselves."
2022 has undoubtedly become the year where the MCU have found themselves no longer being critic proof with many projects coming under far more scrutiny than years before. Has there been a decline in quality in the behemoth of franchises? Kind of but at the same time, the MCU can still prove capable of pleasantly surprising nonetheless.
For example, this delightful special, appropriately timed for the month of Halloween itself decided to pay homage to the Universal Monster Movies of old while also further delving into the supernatural side of the MCU. Needless to say, it's paid off with aplomb.
Ulysses Bloodstone (Richard Dixon) has died and his widow, Verussa (Harriet Sansom Harris) has decided to appoint a successor to the monster hunting club of her former husband. Among the group of hunters, included Ulysses's own daughter, Elsa (Laura Donnelly) and the rather mysterious Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), who had his own agenda and one that turned out to be far more sympathetic than his fellow competitors.
With Elsa determined to get her family heirloom off the back of the captured creature Man-Thing (Carey Jones), Jack's motives were more about rescuing his friend, forming a bond with Elsa and having the fact that he was a werewolf in secret revealed in possibly the worst way going. Needless to say, Jack soon went from being a hunter to being a prey of sorts.
In fact, a pretty jealous Verussa ultimately tried to use Jack in order to get him to kill Elsa, only for Jack and Elsa to kill most of Verussa's guards along with the remaining hunters in question before Verussa herself fell victim to Man-Thing. As a result, Jack got his freedom and Elsa got her inheritance with things feeling neatly wrapped up here.
Jack's connection with Elsa was nice to see with even a hint of a future romance between the two of them but it was his scenes with Man-Thing that were the highlight of the episode. Their friendship and willingness to rescue one another was nothing short of endearing and they might one of my favourite partnerships in the MCU in the space of one special.
- The other hunters in this special included Liorn (Leonardo Nam), Jovan (Kirk R. Thatcher), Azrael (Eugenie Bondurant) and Barasso (Daniel J. Watts). None of them were particularly sympathetic characters but entertaining to watch.
- The majority of this special was in black and white until the last few minutes after Elsa got the Bloodstone.
- Standout music: Judy Garland's Somewhere Over The Rainbow during Jack and Man-Thing final scene together.
- Chronology: Something of an unspecified timeline here.
Werewolf By Night was delightful 52 minutes that proved sometimes less can be more but if more had been on offer, I would've gladly taken. Fantastic performances from Gael Garcia Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris and Carey Jones, this Disney+ special definitely proved that the more horror and supernatural stuff we get from the MCU, the better.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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