Werewolf By Night BTS Video Highlights Brutal Hallway Fight Scene
Werewolf by Night director Michael Giacchino shares a behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal process for the film’s violent hallway fight sequence. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, Werewolf by Night was released on Disney+ earlier this month, earning strong reviews from critics and audiences alike. The Marvel Studios Special Presentation tells the story of a group of monster hunters who convene for a spooky competition following the death of their enigmatic leader. Werewolf by Night marks Giacchino’s first major directorial effort after his previous work as a composer on a number of MCU films, including Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Werewolf by Night introduces a number of new characters into the MCU, most notably Gael Garcia Bernal as Jack Russell, Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone, and Carey Jones as Man-Thing. The Disney+ special is one of the MCU’s first forays into real horror territory, and features some standout scares and violent moments. After it is revealed that Bernal’s Russell is actually a werewolf, Werewolf by Night builds to an explosive climax as he transforms into the beast and brutally takes out a mansion full of Verussa’s (Harriet Sansom Harris) thugs. Some of the scenes are so violent, in fact, that it was Giacchino’s decision to release Werewolf by Night in black and white that helped the special avoid a TV-MA rating.
In a recent tweet, Werewolf by Night director Michael Giacchino shares a behind-the-scenes look at one of the special’s most violent fight scenes. The short video reveals how the hallway fight was rehearsed practically and even features some temporary bloody visual effects. Check out the impressive stunt video above.
Why Werewolf By Night’s Violence Was The Right Choice
One of the most common criticisms levied at the MCU is that many of the films ultimately feel the same in terms of structure, tone, and visual presentation. Werewolf by Night breaks the mold in a number of exciting ways, boasting a vastly different visual style and an old-school-style horror tone clearly inspired by classic monster movies of the 1930s and ’40s. Werewolf by Night’s violence, however, is also a major departure from past MCU fare, featuring plentiful amounts of blood and some truly shocking moments that ultimately help to make the MCU special feel fresh and exciting.
It remains to be seen how Werewolf by Night will fit into the broader plans for the MCU, but Jack and Elsa’s introductions open up a number of exciting possibilities for the future. With Werewolf by Night’s black and white presentation ultimately helping to keep it from earning a TV-MA rating, it’s unlikely that future (in color) appearances by the heroes will be quite as violent and brutal. Although a number of questions remain about how these new characters will interact with other MCU heroes, there’s always a chance that Werewolf by Night’s story can continue with a stand-alone sequel during the Halloween season in the years ahead.
Source: Michael Giacchino/ Twitter
Here’s a great video showing a rehearsal for our Hallway Fight in #werewolfbynight – our incredible stunt team, led by the great Casey O’Neill, brought their all for this shot which I had been thinking about since the start of production. Grateful for they’re talents and efforts! pic.twitter.com/cJCvfiRfXb— Michael Giacchino (@m_giacchino) October 29, 2022
