Werewolf by Night

Marvel Studios took a sharp left turn with Werewolf by Night, a black-and-white horror special that feels like it crawled out of a 1940s Universal monster movie. Clocking in at just 55 minutes, it's the shortest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first project directed by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino. The story follows a group of monster hunters summoned to Bloodstone Temple after the death of their leader, Ulysses Bloodstone. They compete in a deadly ritual to claim the Bloodstone, a relic that gives its owner control over monsters. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Jack Russell, a quiet man with a lycanthropic secret, while Laura Donnelly is Elsa Bloodstone, the estranged daughter who wants her place in the family legacy. Harriet Sansom Harris chews scenery as Verussa Bloodstone, the manipulative widow running the hunt.

The special was shot in color but released in black-and-white, a bold choice that paid off. It premiered on Disney+ on September 25, 2022, and quickly became a cult favorite among fans tired of the usual MCU formula. The practical effects for the werewolf transformation and Man-Thing's suit earned praise, as did Giacchino's score, which he composed while also directing. A color version dropped on October 20, 2022, but most fans prefer the original monochrome cut. With a budget around $50 million, it proved that Marvel could experiment with genre and still deliver something memorable. [edit]

Ulysses Bloodstone, the legendary monster hunter, is dead. His passing triggers a gathering at his eerie temple, where five elite hunters arrive for a mysterious competition. Verussa Bloodstone, his widow, explains the rules: the hunters will be released into a crypt beneath the temple to track and kill a captive creature. Whoever lands the killing blow wins the Bloodstone, a gem that grants control over monsters. Among the hunters is Jack Russell, a reserved man who seems out of place among the hardened killers. He's joined by Jovan, Azarel, Liorn, and Barasso, each boasting about their monstrous kills. Elsa Bloodstone, Ulysses's estranged daughter, crashes the event, demanding her rightful place in the hunt. Verussa reluctantly allows her to participate.

The hunters descend into the dark labyrinth, armed with weapons and torches. The creature they seek is Man-Thing, a towering swamp monster made of plant matter. The crypt is filled with traps and hidden passages, and the hunters quickly turn on each other. Jack, however, seems more interested in protecting the creature than killing it. He secretly frees Man-Thing from a trap, revealing a compassionate side. Elsa notices his strange behavior and begins to suspect he's hiding something. As the hunt progresses, the hunters pick each other off, driven by greed and suspicion. Jack's secret is exposed when the full moon rises, triggering a violent transformation. He becomes a massive werewolf, tearing through the hunters with brutal efficiency. Elsa, horrified at first, realizes Jack is not a mindless beast but a man trapped by a curse. She retrieves the Bloodstone from Verussa, who had been manipulating the hunt from the start. In the final confrontation, Elsa uses the Bloodstone to subdue Jack and then turns it on Verussa, killing her. Man-Thing, now freed, approaches Jack and touches him, revealing a gentle intelligence. Jack and Man-Thing, whose name is Ted, form an unlikely friendship. Elsa decides to abandon the Bloodstone legacy, allowing Jack and Ted to escape into the night. The post-credits scene shows Elsa, Jack, and Ted driving away together, hinting at future adventures.[edit]