I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic's.
A few months ago after the release of two werewolf movies, I happened upon a blog rant about how a certain released flick was horrible because it portrayed the werewolf as mean and not cute and cuddly, and that movie was made just to make fun of her favorite movie werewolves. I hope this young lady either thickens her skin or avoids this next movie, because Wolf Moon isn’t pretty.
Wolf Moon is romantic horror that explores the intricate relationship between a girl and her werewolf. Amy (Ginny Weirick – Ninja Cheerleaders) and new guy in town, Dan (Chris Direction – The Devil's Detour) fall in love, much to the dismay of her father John (Chris Mulkey – Bare Knuckles). But along with love in the air, there’s the scent of blood in the form of slaughtered animals and murder victims. No one has a clue as to what’s going on until detective Charles Thibodeaux (Billy Drago – Zombie Hunters) from Louisiana shows up to compare notes with the sheriff Sam (Maria Conchita Alonso – The Running Man) about similar slaughters across the southern states. And it turns out, there are two lycanthropes, one that hasn’t tasted human blood and one who relishes the carnage, Bender (Max Ryan – Death Race). Also in the cast is Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses) as crazy Louis.
The problem is that Wolf Moon has glaring flaws that just can’t be solved with suspended belief. Amy has two chances to get her father to accept Dan by explaining how he didn’t rip her shirt or slap her around but he protected her. Instead she gives Dad evasive and glib answers. There’s some choppiness to several scenes that appear to be attributed to editing as well.
This isn’t to say that Wolf Moon has no redeeming features. The storyline is good, with a decent mix between the romance and the werewolf family plotline. And who doesn’t love to see Sid Haig cussing and shooting stuff?
Wolf Moon has no Special Features.
And his hair was perfect.
Remember when I said Wolf Moon isn’t pretty? Well, it’s not only the lycans that aren’t cute and cuddly. This movie is a confusing mess of contradictions and miscues. As noted previously, there are numerous emotional inconsistencies and it seems to me that the clarifying parts of the abbreviated scenes got left on the cutting room floor. There’s a scene in which Sheriff Sam is having what is construed as an erotic dream and when she wakes up and looks out her window, a werewolf appears in a lightning flash. Great scene except that there is no reference, before or after, that explains why Sam would be having this dream. It appears that the only purpose for this scene is to have Maria Conchita Alonso in a tank top and pajama bottoms. There are many more miscues like this one, just not as blatant.
But for all the problems, there is something endearing about this flick. You know who the good guys are, you know who the bad guys are, and Amy and Dan make a cute couple. And let’s face it, it’s a lot of fun watching Sid Haig swear and rant. Watch this movie as if it’s episodic, with an open mind, and enjoy. This movie won’t be for everyone, but it’s for me.
ComicsOnline gives Wolf Moon 2 ½ full moons out of 5
Get Wolf Moon on DVD at Amazon.com.
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