WEREWOLF: THE BEAST AMONG US

US, 2012, 93 minutes, Colour.
Ed Quinn, Guy Wilson, Stephen Rea.
Directed by Louis Morneau.

Werewolf: the Beast Among Us is a small-budget horror film, made in Romania, drawing on its atmosphere and using Transylvania locations, the forests, the village, the atmosphere of the past.

It works well enough within its own limits, the presentation of the village, the gruesome pursuit by the werewolf and the deaths, the treatment at the hospital. It also has a band of werewolf-hunters, led by Ed Quinn, the genial hero who has his own secret.

However, the central character is a young man, Daniel, son of a prostitute, accepted in the village, assisting the doctor in his treatment of the werewolf victims. He is played by Guy Wilson. The twist is that he is the vampire, werewolf, fostered by the local doctor, played by Stephen Rea. This is an interesting variation, with the werewolf being the young man with ambitions, their being thwarted by his genes and gradually discovering that he was a werewolf. However, in another twist, he does achieve some celebration by being invited to be a werewolf-hunter himself.

1. The popularity of the werewolf films? This film as a satisfying example?

2. Tradition of the werewolf films, from the 1930s through the forties? With films like an American Werewolf in London…? The 21st century werewolf films?

3. The film shot in Romania, the Romanian countryside, the villagers, Transylvania? The particular atmosphere? The indeterminate period. Set in the past? Production design, décor, costumes? The musical score? Stunt work? Prosthetics and special effects?

4. The setting of the story, the killings in the village, the visuals of the deaths, the werewolf, the dead bodies? The populace, their reactions, in the inn, suspicions, fear?

5. The introduction of the werewolf-hunters? Charles, his followers, the presence of Stefan? Their clothes, manner, weapons? Going from village to village? Questioning the inhabitants?

6. Vadona and her son, a prostitute in the town, at work? Yet sympathetic? Daniel, a fine young man, love for his mother, working with the doctor, wanting to study and become a doctor, His skill at sewing wounds? The doctor relying on him? At home, his concern about the werewolf, volunteering to Charles to fight? Examining his body, his nightmares, the beginnings of his fears? His love for Kasia?

7. The peasants in the town, after the werewolf, becoming victims? Ready with guns?

8. The mayor of the town, his daughter? The mayor gathering the people together, the bargaining for hiring Charles and his group? The plan to put those without an alibi in the jail, the mayor having a fit, the trigger-happy guard, shooting all the victims?

9. The werewolf, the audience knowing it was Daniel, his pursuing people in the town, the killings? The confrontation with the people? His ability to change of his own volition?

10. His fears, return home, the death of his mother, the doctor coming to his home, explaining his hold over Daniel, training him, his anger at the university’s rejection of his research, his plan to unleash Daniel at the university?

11. Stefan, different from the rest of the group, his attention to Kasia, his antagonism towards Daniel, confronting him, being impaled, becoming ash, vampire?

12. Charles, his being killed, the sudden reappearance? The werewolf-hunter having been a werewolf and discovered his vocation? His offering this to Daniel, for his own salvation and being a hunter?

13. Werewolves, superstitions, the theme of angry men like the doctor and his wreaking revenge, his own defeat?