It’s no secret that Marvel Studios has never shied away from referencing events that took place in past MCU films with upcoming projects. However, it’s very rare for the studio to pay homage by referencing classic genres and tropes with its films and TV shows.
While Wandavision took a big swing by showcasing the evolution of TV sitcoms in the Disney+ series, fans have yet to see more of that with other shows and films. The nearest we have seen a major curveball since then might have been the fourth wall breaking from Jennifer Walters in the She-Hulk series. However, we can view that trope to be a major part of She-Hulk’s character from the comics itself.
But, with Marvel Studio’s first Special Presentation in Werewolf by Night, Michael Giacchino transports viewers back in time with his take on classic horror films from the mid-20th century.
With the entire film shot in black and white, Werewolf by Night differs vastly from your average Marvel movie. While most MCU projects continue to stick to a formula with its visuals and special effects, Werewolf by Night is nowhere close to being categorized with any other Marvel project.
The most striking difference comes in the visual department, which feels spooky on all fronts. With Giacchino at the helm, the film looks quite creepy, weird and quite bloody as well. Moreover, other than the aesthetics being largely different from the standard Marvel film or TV show, Werewolf by Night is probably the studio’s most standalone project yet, as it has absolutely no connection to the MCU. Which is why, the film has its pros of being a project that non-MCU addicts can enjoy without having to worry about an unsuspecting cameo pop up.
Speaking of the aesthetic, I can’t but not rave about Giacchino going all in with the classic horror themes. This includes the use of practical special effects like smoke. Even the practical makeup for its characters doesn’t look out of place with the visuals that have been portrayed with the help of the project’s sets and more.
The story also finds inspiration from classic werewolf films. While I won’t be going into detail about it, you can certainly find all the plot elements in Werewolf by Night on other films of the genre, which is not a bad thing because I certainly don’t think anyone has a problem with that.
With respects to the character, Gael García Bernal is cast well as Jack Russell aka Werewolf by Night, who is cursed to transform on a full moon night. The actor brings a certain gravitas of playing a character who is ill-fated to transform without any control, and Bernal showcases those emotions in his performance. While Jack Russell definitely had his moments, it’s Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone, who steals the show with her performance, and her chemistry with Jack Russell is off the charts. Other than Russell and Bloodstone, Man-Thing (or should I say Ted) also has some great moments as well. However, the rest of the cast isn’t really able to shine, as the 50-minute special presentation doesn’t delve deep into the characters’ backstories and intricacies.
This brings me to Werewolf by Night’s biggest issue, which is the runtime itself. While it’s exciting to see the characters go all out against each other in a story of backstabs and bloody deaths, the lack of any character development outside of the protagonists cause the special presentation to not have any bite. There’s little to no explanation on how the characters have ended up at the mansion, and unless you’re a comic book fan, I am pretty sure you wouldn’t care about anyone outside of Jack and Elsa.
While the runtime brings certain issues, none of those problems can be attributed to Michael Giacchino, who is the real star of the TV special. As the director and the composer, Giacchino brings his A game for Werewolf by Night with both the visuals and the audio, which enhance the horror experience for fans. In the end, he has certainly showcased his prowess at being the former, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he receives more opportunities to direct specials like Werewolf by Night in the future.
This brings us to the future on what happens next with Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation. So far, Werewolf by Night has been the only project to be a part of Special Presentations, and in a way, the film has become a project to test audiences on how they view a special that doesn’t necessarily follow any of Marvel’s formula. And judging by the looks of the things, Giacchino and co. have definitely elevated the MCU franchise in a way one-shot/Elseworlds stories have done for comic book franchises.
Marvel Studios has yet to green lit any future Special Presentations. However, Werewolf by Night proves that fans want to see more one-shot stories that doesn’t affect the MCU in the grand scheme of things, as it can introduce several unknown characters and bring them to the forefront with a story that allows directors and cast members to shine.
In the end, while it’s fair to say that Marvel TV shows and films will rule the roost on Disney+, Werewolf by Night proves that special presentations and one-shots will be the critical darlings that Kevin Feige has been looking for all this while.
Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation finds the recipe for success, as Michael Giacchino shines with the bloody and creepy visuals and aesthetics for Werewolf by Night. While the pair of Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly as Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone works quite brilliantly, the lack of runtime prevents any major development for the other characters. However, the 50-minute TV special won’t fail in bringing out the thrills and spooks, which have been inspired by classic horror films of the past.
