‘WEREWOLVES WITHIN’ Review: Light on Horror, Wonderfully Witty Whodunnit With Werewolves

Look, doing a horror-comedy isn’t an easy task. It’s long been said that if you can pull off a successful comedy, you can pull off a successful horror film. Comedy may be one of the hardest technical genres in film so when a film works and it leans into the horror genre, it is best to pay attention.

Werewolves Within is the horror-comedy/whodunnit mystery with lycanthropy that serves as the follow-up film from Josh Ruben’s Scare Me (which is currently streaming on Shudder). The film stars Sam Richardson (Veep) and Milana Vayntrub (you probably know her as Lily, the AT&T girl). Richardson plays a forest park ranger, Finn Wheeler, as he comes into a new town named Beaverfield to assume a new post. The town is full of quirky characters that vary from right-wing “America First!” nutjobs, a man who is trying to get the town to sign off on a gas pipeline to go through town, a gay couple that includes Harvey Guillén (Guillermo from FX’s What We Do in the Shadows), and even a couple of rednecks to pepper in some variety. Vayntrub’s Cecily is a postwoman who guides Wheeler through the town and the townsfolk. After a member of the town (I won’t mention who) comes up missing, most of the town descends on the local bed & breakfast to group together to try and find the town member. Upon investigation, they realize that they’re dealing with a wild animal or…gasp…a werewolf.

(Clockwise from lower right) Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, Catherine Curtin, Harvey Guillen, Cheyenne Jackson, George Basil and Sarah Burns in WEREWOLVES WITHIN, produced by Ubisoft Film & Television, Vanishing Angle, and Sam Richardson. IFC Films will release the film June 25th, 2021 in select theaters and on demand.

The less said about the plot, the better. Hell, I would even suggest you not watch the trailer above (if you did, no biggie). While this is Josh Ruben’s second feature film, his television directorial work seems to have helped put him in a position to direct ensemble casts very well. Werewolves Within is a much bigger movie than Ruben’s previous effort, probably thanks to this being an adaptation of a Ubisoft game, but Ruben confidently directs this film like a veteran. Mishna Wolff’s witty screenplay fuels Ruben’s kinetic direction that may remind you of Edgar Wright’s earlier efforts, like Shaun of the Dead. It doesn’t hurt that the film has been edited and aided by sound design transitions that will remind you of this as well. However, it feels like Ruben’s voice and not an imitation of what Wright has given us in the past.

Sam Richardson and Milana Vayntrub are also huge takeaways from the film. The chemistry between them is just heartwarming. It feels familiar yet endearing. Richardson is definitely a star and while I may not be well versed in his oeuvre, I definitely will be checking more of his stuff out because his comedy on display here is on point.

The only negative to some genre fans is there is little horror to be found here. I only say this because the film got the cover of the July issue of Fangoria. While I think the film is pretty well balanced between the genres, don’t go in expecting An American Werewolf in London, the comedy is more prevalent than the horror, not to say that there isn’t blood or some gore. The comedy is excellent, the cast is great and it is a fun little mystery that is stylishly presented. This is one I look forward to owning for my home collection.

WEREWOLVES WITHIN is in Select Theatres and on VOD Now!