Werewolves occupy a bit of a weird position in the horror world. On the one hand, they’re a standard monster species that everyone’s familiar with, much like vampires and zombies, so it’s tough to deny that they’re really popular. But on the other hand, you can pretty much count the number of well-known werewolf films on one hand. Sure, there are plenty of little indie movies that feature these classic creatures, but it seems like none of them ever catch fire the way films in other subgenres often do. I don’t know why that is, but it’s a real shame. I wish there were more top-notch werewolf movies out there, and if the trailer for Wolf Manor is any indication, that wish just might become a reality very soon. Here’s what the film is about:
During filming of a British, low-budget horror movie, the cast and crew begin disappearing. As the full moon rises, the nightmare begins, and the werewolf strikes.
That’s admittedly a really thin plot synopsis, but I think it tells us everything we need to know. Wolf Manor is apparently a pretty standard werewolf story, but it does have one little twist that sets it apart: it takes place during the filming of a horror movie. Granted, that’s not an entirely new concept, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of any werewolf films that go down that road. So within this particular subgenre, it has the potential to make for a fairly original story, and I hope the movie makes the most of it.
But even if it doesn’t, the trailer gives me hope that Wolf Manor will still be a fun time regardless of how original (or unoriginal) its story ends up being. This trailer makes its werewolves feel like a legitimate threat, so even though it’s only about 90 seconds long, it’s jam-packed with tension and suspense. It’s pretty much exactly what I want a werewolf trailer to be, so I’m really excited to check this movie out.
Wolf Manor hits VOD and DVD on January 9.