TV REVIEW: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT

4/5

A Mexican Werewolf In Marvel.

53 Mins. Starring: Gael García Bernal, Laura Donnelly & Harriet Sansom Harris. Director: Michael Giacchino. 

'The Invisible Man' played by Johnny Depp (although you wouldn't have been able to tell it was him). Javier Bardem perfectly playing the monster of 'Frankenstein'. Tom Cruise as...'The Mummy', (actually, the incredible Sofia Boutella)?! With Russell Crowe's Jekyll and Hyde in tow. The dark designs of a Universal franchise had the makings of monumental movies that Hollywood hallmark harked back to the classics. But it all unravelled at the first exhuming. 

Now, Marvel, who have been dominating the small-screen world after their deal with Disney +, like they still do the big blockbuster one, are getting in on the act. All the way to the black and white period photography of classic cinema that crackles across the silver screen like cooking bacon. This is how Marvel make theirs now. Hot on the heels of this year's successful run of streaming shows ('Moon Knight', 'Ms. Marvel' and 'She-Hulk: Attorney At Law'), despite the hate. This is a fresh and fun, retro rewind to the 'Dracula' scares of old, just in time for Halloween like 'Hocus Pocus 2'. Oh, the horror. 

Based on Marvel graphic novels of the same name, 'Werewolf By Night' is the beginning of what Universal's Dark Universe should have been. Mexican megastar Gael García Bernal ('The Motorcycle Diaries', 'Babel') spearheads this monster hunt alongside a show stealing Laura Donnelly ('Tolkien', for more rings of power than Shang-Chi) and the Salem dark materials of the great Harriet Sansom Harris (who will always be Bebe from 'Frasier') to us. All for 'Up' and 'Lost', Oscar and Emmy winner Michael Giacchino'a horrified state of old affairs. As Kevin Feige and Marvel present something you've never seen before from the cape and hammer franchise, bringing the cloak and dagger or another series of events. 

Better leave the kids at the dinner table, because this is a dark delight to tune into this season with all its tricks and treats. It's not candy coated, M.C.U. popcorn cinema. Or comics for the coral. It's rich, graphic cinema and a novel idea, all the way from the Hollywoodland era build-up for shock and awe, and the credit roll after this is The End like Seth Rogen and James Franco. This is one time you don't have to wait behind for a Marvel movie. They've already said it all and we, too, Michael Stipe much. 

Consider this. This is no 'Teen Wolf', with all due respect to Michael J. Fox. Certainly no 'Twilight'. But as the night is the darkest before the breaking dawn, we have something special on our hairy hands that chime like 'An American Werewolf In London'. For a monster mash of genre homage and an old dog (Jack Russell more than barking and growling) coming up with new tricks like a 'Loki' resurrection. This Marvel Studios Special Presentation is more than canon and maybe the earliest strand of storytelling to date (sorry, Cap). It's a relic of a bygone era, as epic as it is missed in instant vintage. 

'Tis the season to scare up more than costumes for chocolate, as the atmospheric replaces the spandex for this amazing aesthetic. Managing to dodge the critical coffins that are trying to cage 'She-Hulk' (she and that Catholic can do as they damn ease, get back to 'twerk),' Werewolf By Night' has the most potential by far. To be woken up again, like the undead, year after year for a special night. Representation matters. And Marvel cast a die for more than just their new leading man, but in their respect and reverence for what came before they ruled the multiplex. This is Werewolf. Hear the beast roar. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'An American Werewolf In London', 'Dracula', 'Moon Knight'.