Combining a classic whodunit with werewolves may seem like an awkward fit. But in Werewolves Within, the two elements complement each other, resulting in a hilarious, bloody blend that avoids feeling bloated or tonally confused.
The second feature from actor-turned-director Josh Ruben, Werewolves Within comes hot on the heels of his directorial debut Scare Me, a single-location film with so few actors you can count them on one hand. While Scare Me gave Ruben a chance to show the world how much he could do with so little, Werewolves Within is a scaled-up foray into more ambitious filmmaking—it includes a whole town to explore and a gaggle of townsfolk in an ensemble cast.
Not only is the film a step forward for its director, Werewolves Within is also the second feature from fledgling film studio Ubisoft, best known as a video-game production house.
Not surprisingly, the roots of this lycanthropic murder mystery lie in a similarly themed video game of the same title where players try to figure out who the werewolf is.
Werewolves Within starts with a hint of sinister goings-on in the town of Beaverfield, and the story is anchored by the likable park ranger Finn (Sam Richardson). Finn is new to town, and within a few moments of arriving, local postal worker Cecily (Milana Vayntrub) gives him the lay of the land and spills the tea on everyone. Like most small towns, Beaverfield’s residents have plenty of history with each other—but they’re also faced with a modern crisis, grappling with whether or not to allow the construction of a gas pipeline. The tensions are not simmering; they are aggressively boiling at the surface, and the neighbors are not subtle about them.
Soon after Finn’s arrival, a massive snowstorm hits, and everyone is forced to head to the big inn on the hill to stay safe and warm. It is there that the film morphs into the murder mystery we have been waiting for. Though it doesn’t quite match Clue or Knives Out, Werewolves Within manages to maintain its own roster of amplified personalities and motives. As bodies drop and accusations fly, the night gets more deadly.
The tension would be riveting on its own, thanks to performances from the brilliant ensemble cast, but clues start to suggest there’s something supernatural afoot. The innkeeper’s missing husband, the little bichon frise who is killed violently, and the massive claw marks around town all point to the possibility that there is a werewolf on the loose in Beaverfield.
The classic horror monster is played for laughs, but the mounting evidence points to things becoming even more dangerous. Even with this pressing threat, the townsfolk refuse to put down their guns and solve their differences like friends.
Werewolves Within manages to avoid common genre pitfalls by being either scary or funny in each moment, and there is a genuine mystery to figure out: Who or what is doing all the killing? This balance is tricky, but Ruben manages to pull it off with the confidence of a seasoned filmmaker. It’s not easy to get an audience to laugh at death while dreading the next murder.