WER
US, 2016, 89 minutes, Colour.
A.J.Cook, Sebastian Roche, Vik Sahay, Stephanie Lemelin, Simon Quarterman, Brian Scott O'Connor.
Directed by William Brent Bell.
Wer is an above-average werewolf film. It draws on all the popular ingredients of folklore and legend as well as the novels and films concerning werewolves.
The setting is France, a family picnic on a holiday and suddenly being attacked by the monster. A local is under suspicion and arrested. He is a giant man, hairy, living with his mother. His illness is diagnosed and he undergoes tests.
Kate is an American, living in France, a lawyer who takes up the case. She clashes with chief of police who is convinced of the man’s guilt. There are interrogation scenes, grim autopsy scenes, Kate being helped by a friend, Eric as well as by the British surgeon with whom she has had a relationship. Eric is jealous.
After the tests, it is decided to have a reality check, night of the full moon. The man is actually transformed, goes on a killing spree, is pursued by the police, into a building, his jumping and hiding in the forest. In a previous attack, he has wounded the British surgeon who is himself transformed, shaves off all his hair, goes into the forest to pursue the werewolf and rescue Kate.
While the werewolf seems to be killed, the surgeon also recovers, is interviewed on television speculating about where the werewolf is, the audience wondering whether the surgeon is now a werewolf and will kill on the night of the full moon.
The screenplay combines various genres, horror, the law, police investigation as well as some handheld camera work for pursuit in caves for the werewolf as well as outside sequences of the interrogation rooms. The film also uses the device of having at various times a collage of TV news bulletins from around the world.
William Brent Bell also directed the horror films, The Devil Inside and The Boy.
1. The title, a film about werewolves? Folklore, legends? Films in the past about werewolves?
2. The full moon, baying at the moon, the effect on the brain, on eyes, physical transformation, animal -like, hair, size, appetites, violent attacks?
3. This screenplay and absorbing the range of traditions?
4. A police investigation film? A legal case film?
5. The humane aspects of the story, Talan, his mother, ancestry, illness?
6. The introduction, the home movies, the family on vacation, playing together, the ball in the bush, the sudden attack, the violence, the father and the child and death? The mother in hospital, injuries, coma, death?
7. The collage of the international news, different languages, edited together, giving information, the speculations?
8. The arrest of Talan, presumption of guilt, his giant physique, hairy, his hands? Living near the attack? Living alone with his mother? His keeping silence? Kate, her interventions, his listening, slightly opening up, the touch? Her ring?
9. Kate and her history, parents, American, living in France, studying law, her skill in forensic detail? The clash with the police chief? Her reliance on Eric, friendship, professional collaboration? The relationship with Gavin Fleming? His forensic skills, coming to work with her, the clashes with Eric?
10. The interrogations, the information, the status of the law? Kate and her feelings, the law? Talking with Talan? Wanting the handcuffs off, the police out? His opening up, yet his attack on the police, injuring Gavin?
11. The autopsy sequences and their detail? The revelations about the illness, the diagnoses, testing Talan, his eyes, the strobe lights? The effect?
12. The visit of his mother, the Romanian background, the uncle and his illness, the photos?
13. The character of the chief of police, his hostility? The background issue of Talan’s family land, the group’s wanting possession, manipulating the law, the death of Talan’s father? Kate and her pursuit of this theme?
14. The reality test, the full moon, Talan in the transformation, his attacks? In the building, the police tracking him, the attack on the upper floor, his killing, jumping, escaping, going into the forest?
15. The undertones of Beauty and the Beast? Talan and Kate and her trying to help? In the forest, Eric and his work, friendship, in the forest, his being killed?
16. The exploration of the caves, finding the mother, her defence of her son?
17. Gavin, his work, skills, injury, being transformed, looking in the mirror, shaving of all his hair, becoming a werewolf, going to the forest, fighting Talan, saving Kate? Being shot?
18. The police and the financial deals being exposed?
19. The finale, and being interviewed, the puzzle about the survival of Talan? And Gavin, werewolf or not?
20. A satisfying entertainment combining all the elements of police, law, werewolf traditions?
