'Werewolf by Night' Review: Giacchino Makes Outstanding Directorial Debut

All quotes in this article are directly from the discussion with Michael Giacchino at Beyond Fest on October 5.

A scene from Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

“Are you ready for something weird?”
- Michael Giacchino

Werewolf by Night is what you get when you give a passionate, creative, talented artist control over a project of which he is genuinely a fan.

Inspired by horror films of the 1930s and 1940s, Werewolf By Night follows a group of monster hunters as they compete to earn the heirloom of a fallen leader of their cohort. Directed and composed by Michael Giacchino, WBN stars Gael García Bernal in the titular role, along with Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Carey Jones.

Harriet Sansom Harris as Verussa in Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

With this being the first introduction to a new “special” format, it’s great to see a departure from Marvel’s generally similar approach, with many projects blending over time. We’ve seen this separation from the formula with their expansion to Disney+, most notably with Wandavision and She-Hulk, which depart from the 6-episode format used for the rest of the series.

Gael García Bernal as Jack Russell in Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

With a short runtime that makes it get straight to the point, WBN is forced to familiarize viewers with an entirely new array of characters — especially for those that haven’t read the source material. Diving straight into the special, it’s difficult to distinguish the backgrounds and specialties of each character, but the excellent performances from the leading actors are what drive the point home, and establish characters that will undoubtedly become fan favorites.

It isn’t easy to step into the role of a character like Jack Russell, as there are 50 years of comic book lore and zero film adaptations, but Gael García Bernal not only brings heart to the character but depth and emotion to a situation filled with coldness and isolation.

Giacchino was so set on Bernal being the face of this project, that when asked by Marvel Studios who should play the werewolf himself, Giacchino made it clear that there was only one choice.

“When they asked me who I was thinking of, I said ‘Gael’, that's it. I had no plan B.”

Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone in Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

By far one of — if not the — strongest performances in the special was Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone. Donnelly delivers in all aspects, nailing the action, suspense, sarcasm, and ultimate growth seen in Bloodstone throughout the special. Giacchino went so far as to say,

“If you think to yourself, whose thing is this? In my mind, I truly believe that this is Elsa's movie. This is her shedding all the shit she's had to deal with over the years.”

Carey Jones as Man-Thing in Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

However, the character who ultimately stole the show was Carey Jones’ Man-Thing. The humanoid warmth tucked away behind the “monstrous” body is what had audiences laughing and feeling for. It is a bit ironic that the fan-favorite character was one who had zero dialogue. Although, Jones was in a practical costume on set, which was later dignified for the final cut. Only one shot in the final cut features an aspect of the physical portrayal of the beast.

It also alludes to the slight issues in the writing, and how it restricted the pacing in certain areas. But on the other hand, the writing felt true to the style and fit thematically with the narrative while adding in just the right amount of lighthearted humor, but not flooding the dialogue with jokes.

Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone in Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

The one constant that did stand out throughout the entire special was the score. Michael Giacchino absolutely knocked it out of the park with the WBN score, and it again goes to show his passion for the project. His score is present from the first frame of the opening to the last frame of the credits and delivers in every way.

Cinematographer Zoë White (The Handmaid’s Tale) brings a creative perspective to the film, using unique transitions and framing to convey emotions and overall feelings. This paired with the strong noir visuals — which many people may be opposed to, but do feel like the best possible palette for the project, allowing the use of color to contribute to the story — creates stylistically powerful images.

Overall, the sheer amount of passion for this project is not only felt while viewing it but while hearing those involved talk about it. The fantastic performances, coupled with the cinematic look of the entire film, create something truly special and filled with passion.

Werewolf by Night streams exclusively on Disney+ on Friday, October 7.

9/10 Cameras