Werewolf: The Beast Among Us Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" offers a credible 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Despite the film’s low-budget, and direct-to-video origins, the quality stands out for its meticulous detail and reasonably executed digital sheen. The Romanian locales and period-piece aesthetics benefit from excellent delineation and crisp textures, revealing every nuance of the production design. However, the digital polish may not please those hoping for a grainy, more cinematic horror feel.

Colors in "Werewolf" tend to be on the muted side, which is fitting given the film’s atmospheric period setting. Although skin tones can appear chilly in some sequences, the overall color palette remains appropriate and often vibrant. Black levels are generally deep and satisfying, yet there are instances where they falter slightly. Minor noise spikes and shimmering do occur, albeit infrequently, and occasionally some minor artifacting can be seen. Nevertheless, these issues do not significantly detract from an otherwise robust presentation.

From a technical standpoint, the encode performs solidly without any significant compression issues. The depth and contrast are consistent, ensuring a visually engaging experience despite the film's budget constraints. While it lacks the grand scale and enriching visual nuances of higher-budget counterparts, "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" manages to deliver a commendable high-definition viewing that aligns closely with the filmmakers' intentions, making it a worthy addition to any collection.

"Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that, while not offering a blockbuster-level sonic experience, provides a technically sound and enveloping audio presentation. Dialogue is clean, crisp, and centrally prioritized, ensuring clarity even during intense action sequences. Aggressive effects are suitably dynamic and disconcerting, enhancing the visceral experience of the film's darker scenes. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are robust and assertive, delivering a potent undercurrent of bass that reinforces the impact of the film's more dramatic moments.

The rear speaker activity is especially notable during action sequences, with ambient howls, screams, and weapon effects flourishing throughout the soundfield. Although the sound design may lean towards volume and bombast rather than nuanced prowess, it remains engaging and suitably immersive for its genre. Distortion is absent, maintaining a high level of audio fidelity throughout the film. Despite the score being somewhat underwhelming, it never overwhelms the sound effects or dialogue, ensuring a well-balanced mix. Overall, "The Beast Among Us" offers a commendable audio experience that complements its visual presentation.

The Blu-ray extras for "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" provide a comprehensive and engaging behind-the-scenes look into the film's production. Director Louis Morneau and producer Mike Elliott's audio commentary is particularly insightful, offering detailed anecdotes about the Romanian shoot, the film's script development, and budgetary constraints. The Rated and Unrated Versions offer minimal difference, adding only an extra eighteen seconds to the runtime. The deleted scenes mainly consist of incomplete VFX shots and extended content that add little value. The "Making the Monster" featurette crams a lot into nine minutes, including set shooting, costuming, VFX, and stunts but feels rushed. "Transformation: Man to Beast" breaks down the meticulous efforts behind the werewolf transformation using puppets, makeup, CGI, and animatronics, and stands out as a favorite. Lastly, "Monster Legacy" explores the cast and crew's appreciation for Universal's horror lineage.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful commentary by Director Louis Morneau and producer Mike Elliott.
• Rated and Unrated Versions: 93-minute cut with minimal additional content.
• Deleted Scenes: Extended and incomplete VFX shots with minimal value.
• Making the Monster: Behind-the-scenes look at production elements.
• Transformation: Man to Beast: Breakdown of werewolf transformation effects.
• Monster Legacy: Cast and crew discuss Universal’s horror legacy.

"Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" serves as an intriguing foray into the werewolf genre, bounding beyond the usual limitations of direct-to-video releases. Directed by Louis Morneau, this movie offers a captivating premise: a young man named Daniel enlists with a troupe of seasoned werewolf hunters to protect his village from a predatory creature. Set in Transylvania, where werewolves are a codified menace, the movie deviates from traditional tropes. Villagers treat werewolves as common threats rather than folklore, adding depth to the narrative. Despite its immersive setting and promising plot, the film's genre identity remains elusive, oscillating unpredictably between horror-comedy and action-horror.

Technically, "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" showcases proficient, albeit uneven, special effects. The creature design incorporates both CGI and practical effects; an interesting decision that delivers varying levels of success. Notably, behind-the-scenes insights reveal that reliance on prosthetics alone might have sufficed. The gore sequences cater well to horror aficionados, delivering visceral thrills with competent craftsmanship. However, the script and dialogue present significant drawbacks. Often cheesy and akin to SyFy Channel productions, the writing undermines the performances of a cast led by Steven Bauer and Stephen Rea. The latter's portrayal verges on lethargic, further diminishing the film’s dramatic impact.

Ultimately, while the movie succeeds in generating a landscape brimming with bloodshed and mystique, it falters in execution. Character performances oscillate from underwhelming to overblown; hunters fail to resonate as effective protagonists, and dialogue frequently misses the mark. Despite these flaws, certain standout elements – such as its Romanian locations and creature feature elements – elevate it slightly above common direct-to-video fare. "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" may not redefine the genre, but it provides enough thrills and chills to justify a viewing for enthusiasts seeking a new take on werewolf lore.

"Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" emerges as an intriguing yet flawed entry into the werewolf genre. The film attempts to blend classic horror elements with a modern, low-budget aesthetic. While the narrative offers some unexpected twists and generous amounts of gore, it ultimately falls short due to underwhelming performances and a lackluster script. The effort to breathe fresh life into this classic monster is clear but inadequately realized, rendering it a somewhat forgettable endeavor.

On the technical front, Universal’s Blu-ray release is commendable. Despite the film's modest budget, the video quality is robust with satisfactory clarity and detail, effectively capturing the film's gothic atmosphere. The audio presentation is equally solid, creating an immersive experience that enhances the film's eerier moments. The supplemental materials, though limited, include a noteworthy commentary track that offers valuable insights into the film’s production. However, the extras are scant and brief, leaving a feeling of missed opportunity given the potential depth of the content.

As direct-to-video reboots of classic Universal horror icons go (or don't go), "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" is a near-serviceable shot at DTV greatness that fails to amount to anything great. Or good. Or memorable. Or anything of the sort. It's a quick-hit, one-note blood and guts bore with one too many cringe-worthy performances. Universal's Blu-ray release is far more satisfying, though, with a faithful AV presentation and a decent selection of extras (even if the Unrated version of the film amounts to a whopping 18 seconds of additional/alternate footage).