DVD review: Werewolf: The Beast Among Us: A mundane use of a horror legend

The werewolf is one of the few ageless characters to grace the silver screen. This fictitious character have been used countless times since their inception in multiple forms of media. The oft told the story of the half man, half beast has been being told for almost as long as there has been a ear for a story. This character has been used as a number of genres, from horror to comedy and back. The werewolf has been featured in some great movies such as The Wolfman (1941), Silver Bullet (1985), An American Werewolf in London (1982), and the Howling (1981). Then the have been some awful films like An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) and The Howling Reborn (2012). Hollywood is always looking to find that delicate balance in a werewolf flick.
One of the most recent films to use this legendary beast of the night is Werewolf: The Beast Among Us is a moderately entertaining usage of one of the great legendary characters of cinema. It is the latest monster flick from Universal Studios, the same studio that has a historic legacy of great monster films such as The Wolfman, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and of course Dracula. It is a direct to video full length feature film that premiered in 2012.The films stars Ed Quinn (The Caller), Stephen Rea (Underworld: Awakening), Steven Bauer (A Dark Truth), Nia Peebles (Half Past Dead), and Adam Croasdell (Attack Force).
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (WTBAU) is a multi-layered happenstance that tale tells the story of a pure blood werewolf as opposed to one that has been cursed or turned into a werewolf. This film harkens back to the classic werewolf films. It does so in a variety of ways such as the time period that it’s set in as well as the implementation many of the trademark elements that are commonplace in the classic tales of werewolves. Gypsies, a prophecy, and a mystery as to the identity of the who the true beast is. Also like most, it induces the love story element that helps to humanize the story.
What separates this film is the approach it takes to the telling of the tale. Unlike many films, the werewolf and its killings are not the singular focus of the film. Rather, this film focuses on the men comprise the team who are hunting the beast and the town that it terrorizes. It also shows some of the measures and methods that the hunters of that time period used to hunt the beast. The killings and the wolf itself take a backseat to the other elements of the story which gives this feature a different twist to the unfolding of the story.
WTBAU is one of the more visceral depictions of the aftermath of the murders of a werewolf. It paints a very distinct, grotesque picture of the carnage that Werewolves can cause. The images are very distinct. The mutilated, mangled, and maimed bodies of the victims are shown extremely well. Its one of the better aspects of this film. The wolf itself doesn’t look like much. Its actually far to cartoon-like to take the monster seriously and the movie to the next level.
Werewolf The Beast Among is a mediocre watch at best. It shows flashes of a good movie but then it falls just into the realm of the mundane. The story has a good mystery and the action is decent but not that “wow” factor to make a rise to that must see, can’t miss film. I don’t know that I would tell you to buy it but not a bad choice to see on one of those boring nights. Redbox, Netflick, or if you can catch it on cable.

DVD review: Werewolf The Beast Among UsDVD review: Werewolf The Beast Among Us