Werewolves Within (2021) – Review

Horror-comedies are a tricky beast to tame. Go too far in one direction, and you risk losing the scares; lean too much into the other, and the humour falls flat. Werewolves Within, directed by Josh Ruben, finds that sweet spot—delivering a blend of small-town paranoia, quirky comedy, and just enough bite to keep things interesting.

Based on Ubisoft’s video game of the same name (which, let’s be honest, almost no one played), Werewolves Within follows Finn Wheeler (Sam Richardson), a good-natured forest ranger, as he arrives in the snowy town of Beaverfield, where he hopes for a peaceful new assignment. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of a brewing storm—both literally and figuratively. A contentious gas pipeline proposal has divided the eccentric townsfolk, but before the town can tear itself apart over environmental ethics, something else starts doing the tearing—literally. And as tensions rise, a vicious blizzard traps them all inside the local inn, and with the town’s generators also destroyed, everyone is left in the dark.

 

“This was no weather accident.”

Suspect List: Who’s Howling in Beaverfield?

• Jeanine Sherman (Catherine Curtin) – Owns the town’s inn and is dealing with a very recent loss (or so she says). Grief can make people act strange… or maybe her late husband isn’t so “late” after all.
• Dr. Ellis (Rebecca Henderson) – The intense, no-nonsense scientist researching the local wildlife. But what if she’s studying something more… personal?
• Trisha Anderton (Michaela Watkins) – The over-the-top yoga-loving conservative who really wants her dog back. But if she’s so heartbroken over her pet, why does she seem so… bitey?
• Pete Anderton (Michael Chernus) – Trisha’s passive husband who doesn’t seem thrilled to be married to her. Maybe he’s bottling up his rage… or his inner werewolf.
• Devon and Joaquin Wolfson (Harvey Guillén and Cheyenne Jackson) – A snobby gay couple who despises the townies.
• Marcus and Gwen (George Basil and Sarah Burns) – An aggressively dysfunctional, gun-loving couple.
• Sam Parker (Wayne Duvall) – The corporate pipeline guy who wants to build through the town. Greedy and shady… but is he hairy and shady?
• Emerson Flint (Glenn Fleshler) – The town’s mysterious loner who looks like he could be a werewolf. Which means he probably isn’t… right?
• Cecily Moore (Milana Vayntrub) – The town’s super-friendly mail carrier. Too charming? Too helpful? Could she be hiding a beastly side behind that quirky personality?

 

“I’m too adorable to be a vicious killer, right?”

Things really get cooking when the hair samples Dr. Ellis took from the “crime scenes” turn out to be not in any animal database, and she violently suggests to the group that the culprit may be a lycanthrope who blends in with the rest of them – that she then “commits suicide” doesn’t help. Cue absolute mayhem. Paranoia runs wild as Beaverfield’s residents turn on each other, alliances shift, and accusations fly faster than snowflakes in a blizzard. Guns are drawn. Secrets are spilled. People get hilariously unhinged. And Finn, bless his overly polite heart, just wants everyone to get along. Moral of the story?

 

Werewolves, small-town politics, and snowstorms do NOT mix.

Stray Observations:

• This is not the first werewolf film to have a “whodunit” aspect, as the 1974 film The Beast Must Die had a definite Agatha Christie vibe, just not done as well as it is here.
• I have to give the screenwriters props for being the first horror film to open with a dramatic quote from Mr. Rogers.
• The first victim is attacked and dragged around by an unseen creature, very reminiscent of the death of Chrissie in Jaws.
• Emerson Flint has a stuffed grizzly bear in his house, but grizzlies are not native to Vermont. Did he import this trophy to impress his friends? Even though he has none.
• Locking away all of the guns for supposed safety, when a werewolf doesn’t need a gun to kill, is possibly the dumbest thing ever done in a werewolf movie.
• Parker uses a hidden blade, mounted on his wrist, a weapon featured in the Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed franchise.
• This film’s werewolf has plot-specific senses, as it should have easily been able to smell Finn while he was bleeding heavily.

 

“Can I axe you a question?”

The film thrives on its mix of horror and comedy, with its tone feeling like Clue meets The Thing. The humour is sharp, often character-driven, and delivered with excellent timing, thanks to a cast of actors who understand the assignment. What makes it all work so well is that everyone in town is weird in their own way, which makes the whodunit aspect of the film all the more fun. With every new twist, you’re left second-guessing who’s trustworthy and who’s hiding something furry under the surface.

Note: This film is heavy on comedy but light on actual werewolf action.

From gun-toting right-wingers to yoga-loving environmentalists, the ensemble is packed with colourful oddballs. Every character feels distinct, which makes the mystery more engaging. Leading the pack is Sam Richardson, who is the heart of the film, playing Finn as the ultimate “nice guy” stuck in the worst possible scenario. His charm makes him easy to root for, even as the insanity around him escalates. Milana Vayntrub shines as Cecily, bringing wit, warmth, and a sense of unpredictability to her role. The supporting cast is stacked with comedic talent, from Michaela Watkins as a delightfully aggressive craft lover to Glenn Fleshler as a gruff, gun-toting hermit.

 

“Do I look like a furry to you?”

Unlike some horror-comedies that rely on slapstick or camp, Werewolves Within builds tension while keeping the laughs coming. It plays with classic horror tropes—creepy isolation, paranoia, the fear of the unknown—but doesn’t take itself too seriously. The script, written by Mishna Wolff (yes, that’s really her name), is filled with witty dialogue and subtle satire, poking fun at everything from small-town politics to corporate greed. That the werewolf turns out to be the least volatile “person” in this town just adds to the comedic brilliance of the script.

 

The amount of crazy in this town is astounding.

In conclusion, Werewolves Within was a delightful surprise—an indie horror-comedy that didn’t overstay its welcome, packed with plenty of laughs, and offered just the right amount of horror. The cast was fantastic, the script was sharp, and the mystery was engaging enough to keep you invested. If you’re looking for something spooky but not too scary, funny but not dumb, and packed with quirky characters, Werewolves Within is a fantastic choice.