They Are Watching for the WEREWOLVES WITHIN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and to other platforms from director Josh Ruben and IFC Films is a story of a small town and a WEREWOLVES WITHIN.

Finn Wheeler (Sam Richardson) has arrived in small town Beaverton as the new Forest Ranger. He is greeted by townsfolk and learns their story whether he wants to or not. Happy to provide further information is Cecily Moore (Milana Vayntrub), the postal woman who takes to Finn rather quickly.

Staying at the local hotel owned by Jeanine (Catherine Curtin), Finn learns that her husband left her for another woman in a warmer place. She is also dealing with Sam Parker (Wayne Duvall) who wants everyone to sell their land rights to him so he can continue with his pipeline. That is a lot for a newcomer to take in, but Finn goes along with the flow.

What he does not expect, nor does anyone in the town, is that attacks begin to happen. They seek out Emerson Flint (Glenn Fleshler) to help track whatever it is. Then they turn to Dr. Ellis (Rebecca Henderson) for answers, it is decided that with a huge storm getting ready to set itself down in Beaverton everyone will stay at Jeanine’s hotel where it will be safe. Well, it seems that perhaps no where is safe as long as whatever is on the loose manages to evade them.

It is hard to fight what you can not see in the dark!

Richardson as Finn is the calm and collected man in the middle of the strange and unusual town of Beaverton. Taking it all in while dealing with his own love life, Richardson gives his character a naivete that is charming and when things get tough, he might be freaked out by the new towns happenings, but Finn is the first one in the mix.

Vayntrub as Cecily gets an opportunity to shed her AT&T image and jump into the film as a postal carrier who knows everybody’s business. She is smart, funny and seems to be attracted to Finn. When the craziness begins, Vayntrub’s Cecily is right with Finn the entire time trying to solve the towns mystery.

Curtin as Jeanine as runs the local hotel but still has issues understanding why her husband decided to leave her. The hotel is the center of town and now with a mystery happening, it is a place to hide. Duvall as Sam makes his way through those who live in Beaverton trying to convince them to sell and even become abrasive towards those who will not.

Henderson as Dr. Ellis is trying to discover the secrets behind the mystery of what is happening to the towns people. Finn and Cecily look to her for answers, but they are slow in coming and might be too late. Fleshler as Flint may not know about Mr. Rogers but he does begin to understand what it means to be a good neighbor.

Other cast include Pete Anderton, George Basil as Marcus, Harvey Guillen as Joaquim Wolfson, Cheyenne Jackson as Devon Wolfson, Michaela Watkins as Trisha Anderton, Glenn Flesherler as Emerson, Patrick Walsh as Dave Sherman, Anni Krueger as Charlotte and Ritz as Cha-Chi.

IFC Films is a leading distributor of quality talent-driven independent films. Some of the company’s successes include BOYHOOD, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, TOUCHING THE VOID, CHE, TINY FURNITURE and CARLOS. For more information on films from IFC please visit www.ifcfilms.com.

WEREWOLVES WITHIN is a funny, fun, fantastically acted with a cast that takes this horror and gives it a lining of comedy. Based on a video game of the same name, I am hoping to get my hands on it to play for a bit of fun myself.

The cast is so well put together, and each has a part to play, and plays is it extremely well. It is a who-done-it from start to finish and I must admit to enjoying that aspect of the film. The music adds an awesome touch as I enjoy films that have tunes to reminisce too.

There is something fun when a mix of horror, comedy and music come together in such a way that it all looks easy and flows well. So much so that WEREWOLVES WITHIN is worth seeing again and enjoying with friends because there is nothing better than a lights-out movie night for horror and laughs.

In the end – it is a whodunnit with teeth!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare for THE HUNT

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this Friday from writers Nick Cuse, Damon Lindelof, director Craig Zobel. Blumhouse and Universal Pictures is a film that will leave you talking about THE HUNT.

A group of people wake up in the middle of nowhere and in an open field they all see a box. Running towards it, they aren’t sure what will happen when it is opened. It quickly becomes clear as shots ring out that they are being hunted – but by who?

Managing to jump a fence, Crystal (Betty Gilpin) makes her way to a gas station where Ma (Amy Madigan) and Pa (Reed Birney). Knowing she needs to get far away; Crystal gets a walkie talkie and hears voices talking about where the “hunted” are. She meets fellow huntee Don (Wayne Duvall) and off they run.

Coming to the train tracks, they manage to jump aboard only to be recaptured by unknown soldiers. The American embassy sends someone to get Crystal and Don and want to stop what is happening. When things go wrong it’s time to find those responsible and come face to face with them.

Crystal is alive because she doesn’t trust anyone and a face to face is exactly how she wants it!

Gilpin as Crystal is stunning in every way. She is not exactly what film goers would know as a larger than life super heroine but damn if she doesn’t have her own way of dealing with thing. I love the way she reasoned and the fact that she has a clear line drawn in the sand never flinching. Gilpin just had me in awe the entire film so congrats on that!

Swank as Athena has a role to play in this entire story line and she is equally as stunning as Gilpin. Her presence isn’t totally necessary on screen for the film but when she is there, she’s frightening in her monotone voice leaving us all guessing.

Madigan as Ma is as devious cute as she wants to be, but I expect nothing less from her. Birney as Pa reminded me of an uncle but not quite as loaded for bear as Pa.

Duvall as Don isn’t as quick to catch on to what is happening, and it is Crystal that keeps him alive. He is quickly trusting until he realizes that no one can be. I have to give a shout out to Suplee as Gary because he definetly making sure to save his own bacon.

Also shout out to Roberts for looking good in a track suit as always and the uncredited Justin Hartley. Man, I love when he shows up randomly!

Other cast include Ike Barinholtz as Statene Island, Ethan Suplee as Gary, Emma Roberts as Yoga Pants, Christopher Berry as Target, Sturgill Simpson as Vanilla Nice, Kate Nowlin as Big Red, Glenn Howerton as Richard, Steve Coulter as the Doctor, Dean West as Martin, Vince Pisani as Peter, Teri Wyble as Liberty, Steve Mokate as Sgt. Dale, Jason Kirkpatrick as Rannnndeeee, Tadasay Young as Nicole, Hannah Alline as Flight Atendant, Jim Klock as Captain O’Hara and Hilary Swank as Athena.

Here is the thing, there are a few films that I am reluctant to tell to much about because of the plot. THE HUNT is a little different in that it is easy to see what the film is about just looking at the trailer so my reluctance to tell any more is everything that ISN’T in the trailer. There are twists and turns going on every second.

There is also shocks, awes, humor, uncomfortable laughter, brief political discussions, stereotypes, and the film doesn’t care what the weaponry does as long as it’s locked and loaded! The scene between Gilpin and Swank has to be the topping of a very large and in-your-face bloody cake.

This storyline is quick, smart when bringing people from so many different walks of life. Their goal is survival and those responsible have a goal of their own and I’ll let you see what that is for yourself. The one thing that I’m sure about THE HUNT is that once you see it, there are conversations that are going to be had for quite a while.

In the end – the most talked about movie of the year that has yet to be seen!