Last year, the first proper horror film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe premiered on Disney+. Now comes a new version of the film that fundamentally changes one thing
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has played with individual horror elements every now and then over the course of its 15-year history. However, there hasn’t been an entire horror movie for a long time. It wasn’t until the hour-long MCU special Werewolf by Night, which premiered on Disney+ last year, that that changed.
Werewolf by Night was conceived as a tribute to the scary cinema of the 1930s and 1940s. Filmic models included genre classics such as The Werewolf of London and The Wolf Man. Accordingly, the film also came in black and white images. But now a new version is to be released.
Marvel Horror Movie at Disney+: Werewolf by Night gets a color version in October
As director Michael Giacchino confirmed on Twitter, he and his team have been working on a color version of Werewolf by Night for the past few months. This is to celebrate – at least in the U.S. – on October 20, 2023 their premiere on Disney+. However, the film’s most beautiful twist might not work then.
Here you can watch the trailer for Werewolf by Night:
The story of Werewolf by Night takes you to the remote Bloodstone Manor, where there is a death to mourn: Ulysses Bloodstone, the patriarch of the mysterious family of monster hunters:inside, has passed away. At the funeral service, a monster hunt is to decide who in the family circle will inherit the mighty Bloodstone.
Verussa Bloodstone (Harriet Sansom Harris), the wife of the deceased, initiates the monster hunt. Present are, among others, daughter Elsa (Laura Donnelly), the daughter of the family and Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), who at first glance does not seem like he can defeat a monster. Instead, he hides another secret.
Attention, spoilers follow!
The color version of Werewolf by Night threatens to destroy the great Wizard of Oz twist
As the story progresses, Jack Russell is revealed to be the titular werewolf and must fear for his life. The film’s best twist, however, comes near the end, when Giacchino’s production bows to The Wizard of Oz and breaks up the black and white imagery with color – an incredible moment!
When the new version of Werewolf by Night now comes completely in color, that twist is completely lost. The previous play with light and shadow is also likely to be significantly compromised, not to mention the deliberately placed red color elements that Giacchino sprinkled throughout the film earlier.
Werewolf by Night is one of the most cinematically interesting projects the MCU has produced to date. Giacchino has created something that really feels like we haven’t explored all corners of the massive franchise yet. Let’s hope that Werewolf by Night 2.0 can convince in other aspects in return.
