MCU: "Werewolf By Night" Review - DAMN, This is Good

(SPOILERS) (SPOILERS) (SPOILERS)

I didn't know what to expect from this exactly.

The first time we ever heard anything about this was earlier this year when it was randomly reported that the famous composer Michael Giacchino ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", "The Batman (2022)", "Thor: Love and Thunder") was directing his first ever special for the MCU with this mysterious Halloween-Set Short Film. We didn't even know about this being the first of a revolutionary new style of storytelling for the MCU known as the Marvel Studios' "Special Presentation."

And now, here we are... With what's quite possibly the best MCU story yet. I mean it. I REALLY enjoyed this.

But why do I, and even the majority of other reviewers it seems, love this one so much? For me, it's because of its simplicitic intrigue it brings to the MCU.

For the first time ever, we're seeing the Monster-side of the MCU in an in-depth yet not too much detailed manner. We learn that there are apparently Monster Hunters, that are pretty experienced with several monsters that have also apparently been in the MCU the entire time. We see creatures that look like Vampires/Massive Bat-People, bug-eyed ones, and Yeti of sorts. It's fascinating, so much so that I really hope we get to see more of this stuff soon.

We also get to meet a couple Monster Hunters, and technically Two Monsters, in a great, simple yet also complex way.

Let's start off with Jack Russell, aka Werewolf By Night. A pretty chill person, very similar actually to Steven Grant, aka Moon Knight. Both don't really do much combat, both care about helping others feel better about themselves, and both are just adorable to watch most of the time. I also love his love for his own family being a major part of even his look. I wanna get to know more about Jack honestly. And especially...

Man-Thing... Er, excuse me, Ted.

Ted is a, let's just say, very important inclusion for this particular "Multiverse Saga" the MCU is in right now. But here, we meet him as just this Man who turned into this Thing (not-subtle-at-all pun intended). He's just someone who is just trying to live his best life as much as he can, even if he is this unique creature who's always being hunted, and has had to result to using his (FUCKING POWERFUL) abilities against these many threats that will definitely, sadly, continue to be a bigger list of beings I'm sure.

I actually didn't expect to care about "Ted" this much in the MCU, but it's a genius move and I'm actually wanting the best for him honestly. It's hard not to think that way.

Let's also talk about their newest "buddy", of sorts:

Elsa Bloodstone. A person I'm literally planning on dressing up as this Halloween.

A somewhat stone-cold badass (very violent) Monster Hunter, who abandoned the teachings/ways of her family to be a different kind of Monster Hunter than them, and still aims (and succeeds) to get the central family heirloom, the powerful Bloodstone, to get it out of their dangerous hands.

We don't even know that much specific detail about her and her family's past interactions, but we know just enough for me to already love her character. She's also got a nice soft spot towards Jack and Ted, once she got a good chance to know them, during this funeral. I also appreciate how they don't have an immediate romantic love for one another, Jack and Elsa. I respect not always having that happen in brief interactions. I understand, and even sometimes like it, when it happens, but not always having it happen is very realistic.

They more respect each other, and are moving on for now. That's good enough.

There's also something to say about how this connects quite a bit to the MCU's Future, but not in a way that feels like you have to watch the other stuff first even. A casual person could easily watch this and enjoy it, that is if Near-Rated-R Horror is their thing.

I don't know, I think this is just a great simple little romp, that's so violent (which is a great sign for the future MCU stories "Marvel Zombies: S1" and "Blade" and "Deadpool 3") and also so sweet at the same time. Highly recommend this one. Seriously.