Before I sat down to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s hour-long Werewolf by Night special on Disney+, I knew absolutely nothing about it. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that I really liked what I was seeing.
The special combines the MCU with a classic monster movie/horror vibe, and the result is a perfect combination that passes by way too quickly.
Here are the four things I loved most about the special – and I hope this is just the beginning of more classic monster content in the MCU!
1. Black and white cinematography
The highly stylized black and white cinematography (with selective, purposeful use of color) is absolutely perfection. I feel like I don’t often hear the MCU praised for cinematography the same way that other geek properties are (Denis Villeneuve’s Dune or anything by Christopher Nolan come to mind). However, the black and white technique is used so well here and is key to setting the scene. It’s not just a gimmick.
2. Noir feel
Old-fashioned horror and a noir feel are welcome additions to the MCU; I’d like more of this, please!
3. Introduction of intriguing characters
We don’t get to spend a lot of time with monster hunters played by Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly, but I’m intrigued by their mysterious pasts. The show reveals just enough to get us invested in their characters, but leaves plenty of storytelling possibilities for the future.
4. Taking chances
Werewolf by Night is completely different from anything the MCU has done before, and I love that. Phase 4 seems to be all about taking chances, making mistakes and getting messy (as the illustrious Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus would say), and while there have been some misses, we’ve seen a lot of exciting, groundbreaking storytelling in this phase so far. I want to see the MCU keep swinging for the fences with out-of-the-box content like Werewolf by Night.
