Last spooky season we were treated to a Marvel one-off, Werewolf by Night, on Disney+. The black-and-white special was the creation of composer/director Michael Giacchino, based on Marvel comics that explored the darker corners of the Marvel-verse. It was a quiet but impressive hit for fans of both Marvel and old-school horror films. This fall, it is being re-released in color, for a fresh take on the eerie tale.
About Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night follows the mysterious activities of a clan of master monster hunters as they gather at the sprawling mansion of Ulysses Bloodstone, the most powerful of their kind. Summoned by his widow, Verussa (Harriet Sansom Harris), they are there to compete in a hunt to earn the powerful Bloodstone, the victor of which becomes their new leader.
Among the competitors are Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), a surprisingly slight but masterful hunter, and Elsa (Laura Donnelly), Ulysses’s estranged daughter, who aims to claim what she sees as rightfully hers. Through a shadowy maze in the dead of night, the hunters stalk each other and the mysterious beast to whom the Bloodstone is attached. However, it soon turns out Jack is there on a much different mission than the rest.
The special is filmed in black and white, using on classic horror/creature film angles and shadows to build suspense while keeping some of the most extreme violence slightly off-camera (but not all of it, it is a monster movie after all). It is both cleverly done and solid cinematic storytelling for this vintage-style monster movie.
The Mind of Michael Giacchino
Michael Giacchino has long been known as one of the most prominent composers in Hollywood, especially when it comes to fantasy, science fiction, and Pixar. His stirring music broke our hearts in Up, created emotion and tension in Lost, and revived heart-stirring themes in new forms for the latest era of Star Trek and Jurassic Park franchises.
However, Giacchino’s love of filmmaking has long gone beyond music, as witnessed in the great behind-the-scenes special for Werewolf at Night, Director at Night. Being given the chance to direct this short film was a dream come true for him, and he brought to it a passion for classic cinema and old-school horror that really makes the special.
Now in Color!
As a whimsical addition to Disney+’s “Hallowstream” offerings, Marvel and Disney are releasing an alternate version of Werewolf by Night, now in color. It’s an interesting idea, and definitely amps up the gore and violence a bit, adding intensity to the blood. Will it be better or not, that is the question. Werewolf by Night in Color will be released on Disney+, with the original black and white being added to Hulu’s streaming library as part of “Huluween.”
- Where Can You Watch Werewolf by Night: Stream Werewolf by Night and Werewolf by Night in Color on Disney+, with Werewolf by Night also on Hulu.
Where to Watch Werewolf by Night
Disney+
Werewolf by Night, both its original black and white release and the new color one, is available to stream on Disney+ and can be watched by subscribing to Disney+ and downloading the Disney+ app to your Smart TV or TV-connected streaming device. You can learn how in our article: How To Watch Disney+ on TV. A subscription to Disney+ costs $7.99 per month, but you do not need to sign up for a long-term contract and can cancel whenever you like. For more information on this streaming service, see our article Everything You Need to Know about Disney+.
Hulu
Hulu also has Werewolf by Night available to stream as part of Huluween month. It’s base streaming library service starts at just $7.99 per month but provides an annual billing option priced at a discount. This plan is ad-supported and comes with a 30-day free trial. There are also several bundle options that include Disney+, Hulu + Live TV, and ESPN. For more information on the service features and device support, please see our in-depth review of Hulu.
