Werewolf By Night

Disney+ kinda snuck this one by us. An old school horror "movie" (not really though, it's like 50 min.) under the Marvel banner. Be nice if some of the characters had actual names, I knew only the ones they did name. I'd like to know more about the.....person.....in white.

Anyone else catch this?

I really enjoyed it. I honestly wish it had been a full movie, because I think we only just scratched the surface with all the characters. The crypt scene with Jack and Elsa bonding was great, and Man-Thing, or Ted rather, stole the whole show. Here's hoping we see them again soon.

That scene with the werewolf in the hallway as the door (and the room's light source) is slowly closing was wonderful. They really pushed TV-14 with some of the violence, which I think they only got away with because of the black and white.

The only thing I wasn't feeling was the werewolf's design. I know it was a throwback to The Wolfman and I am glad they didn't go the CGI route, but it wasn't enough for me. The face especially needed some prosthetics or something. He just looked like a monkey.

This was very fun. Adored the throwbacks to Universal and Hammer-Amicus Horror stylistics, in particular with the Werewolf rampage that serves as the special's crowning jewel. Man-Thing steals the show, even if the special commits a CARDINAL SIN by not calling him "Man-Thing" and not doing the "Whatever knows fear..." Phrase Catcher routine. Elsa and Jack really have a nice, easygoing chemistry and I hope to see more of them.

In general I really wish this had been a full-fledged movie. Here's hoping experiments like this and Giacchino keep going forward in the MCU (give me my BW Legion of Monsters film/show).

This design, and most early Werewolf design, lean largely into the Man of Wolf-Man while most modern werewolves lean into the Wolf.

I understand the reference, I just wasn't a big fan.

Yeah. I kinda figured it was focusing on the old school Man Wolf look myself.

Plus, he kinda looked like he did in the comics as well.

I really liked this. I now want a movie focusing on Ted and Jack as they go on adventures together.

Outside of avoiding the obvious jokes, do have any knowledge on where the Ted name for Man-Thing came up.

Like, I know not everything is a deep cut, but I can't help but wonder if there's some significance to choosing that name in particular.

The character's actual birth name in the comics is, in fact, (Doctor) Ted (as in Theodore) Sallis. It's his actual name. The thing is that, in the comics, he lost his entire identity and sense of self once he became Man-Thing, so he no longer answers by the name Ted (if you call him that, it'll usually just give him brief pause). The special had a more optimistic take.

I thought it was something like that.

That's pretty clever.

We don't know much about this version of Man-Thing. Maybe he still remembers a bit of his old self. Or maybe Jack knew him before his accident.

Man, I learned that Iron Man met Werewolf by Night. It's a shame MCU Tony is dead. I'd love to see his reaction to learning Werewolves are a thing.

Ted: (breaks into the manor through the ceiling) Man-Thing smash.

I enjoyed the irony of Elsa being trapped with a transformed Jack by the monster hunters so she'll get killed, and then all of them are killed except Elsa (and the lucky retainer).

I liked it. I do find it interesting that the dialogue and in particular the ending suggested that this was something that happens to Jack and Ted fairly regularly and this was just one of multiple adventures - but without explicitly mentioning details.

In the same vein as She-Hulk seemingly indicating that there are actually a lot more super-powered people out there who we just don't hear about it feels like the MCU is moving from a "hard" shared continuity to a softer and more vague "shared universe".

Now that we have most of the Midnight Sons, I'd love to see Elsa get her own solo series done in the style of Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt - just an anthology series showing her hunts, probably with plenty of appearances from the other Midnight Sons and maybe the introduction of someone like the Living Mummy and/or Frankenstein's Monster. It would eventually build to a big season finale with some sort of major villain, but it would otherwise be a series of standalone adventures. If they keep WBN's darker and more violent feel, they could bring in plenty of established and up-and-coming horror personnel to do their thing, and Tom Savini and/or Greg Nicotero for some classic practical effects.

That, and I desperately want Doug Bradley to enter the MCU as Frankenstein's Monster.

Edited by HasturHasturHastur on Oct 9th 2022 at 9:48:49 AM

I get that sense from Phase 4 as well.

Like, the Infinity Saga had to be sold as a franchise, but this time Feige may be trying to make it more like an actual comics verse, where characters who don't really have much to do with each other don't really show together much until the big Crisis Crossover actually starts.

Then again, there was Shang-Chi's post credits scene, so its not a hard rule or anything.

Another thing that I just thought of for an Elsa standalone series is to have each episode focus on a different genre of horror. WBN is a composite of Universal Monsters and Hammer/Amicus horror, so maybe one episode could be hillbilly horror, one could be Asian folk horror (maybe bring in someone like Timo Tjahjanto or Yam Laranas to direct it), one could be a nautical creature feature, and maybe even a Nazisploitation (in terms of style) episode with some sort of HYDRA super-science abomination gone rogue.

I think the pseudo-anthology approach actually might work better for Man-Thing. Gerber's emblematic 1970's run was essentially structured like a anthology (as Man-Thing can't speak or formulate thoughts, so he pretty much shambles on stumbling in strange stories largely unrelated to him).

I feel like Man-Thing would work better as a horror-comedy series than a straight action/horror. Just have him casually wander through time and space and getting into all sorts of wild adventures while trying to find his way back home, Quantum Leap-style.

No need to separate him and Jack either.

If Blade shows up we can get a vampire/werewolf team-up

That be great

I really like the friendships scenes between Jack and Ted/Man-Thing. Also they did a good job with avoiding getting a Tv Ma rating because of the black and white filter.

Edited by Bubblepig on Oct 9th 2022 at 4:11:11 AM

That's almost definitely going to happen, since Blade and WBN are consistent allies in the comics. Morbius too, but I don't want Leto Morbius anywhere near this haha.

I really liked it and I'm glad they are trying something different. Just hope it does well enough so they are encouraged to experiment a bit more.

How does everyone feel about Elsa? Some are upset she doesn't have red hair, but I thought she was fine.

They got the essence of her character down, and Laura Donnelly is fantastic as her. Sure, she doesn't have the trademark dual-wielded rifles, but this is before she actually donned the Bloodstone - she can't physically do it yet.

I liked her. I do hope she adds the red hair and the ponytail in future appearances though. Just makes her stand-out more.