Woof II
Another holiday review!
Skinwalkers
Previously on this LJ the interesting question has been raised if werewolf movies per definition are lousier than vampire movies.
I'll now raise another question related to this which goes a bit like this. Is there a sub-genre of werewolf-vampire movies (and potentially stories too, I don't delve that far into the Epic Vampire Shag section of the store shelves) which by formula is a bit like this...
One: The Fangs/Furs have some sort of subculture and some of them are if not "good" so at least not actively hostile to humanity.
Two: The Fangs/Furs will have a Half-Breed or Special appear among them, foretold by Prophecy.
Three: And this Half-Breed / Special will bring Major Salvation (or extinction) to the Race.
If this formula indeed exist, I have a heartfelt plea to all you writers out there. Skip it. After seeing Underworld and Blood & Chocolate and Skinwalkers of what feels like half a dozen movies or TV films on the same theme, I think you should use your considerable creative talents to write something different. And please, leave the half-vampires behind permanently.
What, there was a film I was supposed to review? Sure, there was. In Skinwalkers, good werewolves who don't eat meat during moonlight, look wholesome and dress sensibly are hunted down by evil werewolves who have scruffy hair and poor clothing taste, have rough sex and ride on motorcycles. The reason for this is because the Good Werewolves protect a young half-breed and his mother as - you're not going to believe this - this young half-breed as foretold on his thirteenth birthday will be able to cure the werewolves of their curse. I bet you can't tell how the story will end.
This is a B-movie and not a very good one either. Seriously, it isn't that poorly made and some bits are okay and it definitely could get into the whole philosophical-Deep-sentimental mess which sometimes gets into these films as some sort of foul-smelling goo but it doesn't, and it does try to keep the pace up. But the stereotyping of good and bad werewolves, with some Native American stuff dumped in, is so blatant the entire setup is more like Good Rural Citizens fight against Sadistic Motorcycle Gang mixed with "Inspiration From Terminator 2". The acting is rather stony, and there isn't nearly enough horror moments to make it a frightening film (a consistent problem with many of the monster-centric films on this theme). While there isn't a lot of romance we do have the Kid instead, and that's not a trade for the better, and I think the werewolves look a bit corny. The action sequences are murky or non-tense (that's a problem with werewolves, they are both hard to kill and yet die rather easily when they need to), and while I'm sure Elias Koteas and Rhona Mitra both have made worse films they certainly have made better ones too. Okay, Rhona Mitra at least did Doomsday which is far more entertaining.
Skinwalkers
Previously on this LJ the interesting question has been raised if werewolf movies per definition are lousier than vampire movies.
I'll now raise another question related to this which goes a bit like this. Is there a sub-genre of werewolf-vampire movies (and potentially stories too, I don't delve that far into the Epic Vampire Shag section of the store shelves) which by formula is a bit like this...
One: The Fangs/Furs have some sort of subculture and some of them are if not "good" so at least not actively hostile to humanity.
Two: The Fangs/Furs will have a Half-Breed or Special appear among them, foretold by Prophecy.
Three: And this Half-Breed / Special will bring Major Salvation (or extinction) to the Race.
If this formula indeed exist, I have a heartfelt plea to all you writers out there. Skip it. After seeing Underworld and Blood & Chocolate and Skinwalkers of what feels like half a dozen movies or TV films on the same theme, I think you should use your considerable creative talents to write something different. And please, leave the half-vampires behind permanently.
What, there was a film I was supposed to review? Sure, there was. In Skinwalkers, good werewolves who don't eat meat during moonlight, look wholesome and dress sensibly are hunted down by evil werewolves who have scruffy hair and poor clothing taste, have rough sex and ride on motorcycles. The reason for this is because the Good Werewolves protect a young half-breed and his mother as - you're not going to believe this - this young half-breed as foretold on his thirteenth birthday will be able to cure the werewolves of their curse. I bet you can't tell how the story will end.
This is a B-movie and not a very good one either. Seriously, it isn't that poorly made and some bits are okay and it definitely could get into the whole philosophical-Deep-sentimental mess which sometimes gets into these films as some sort of foul-smelling goo but it doesn't, and it does try to keep the pace up. But the stereotyping of good and bad werewolves, with some Native American stuff dumped in, is so blatant the entire setup is more like Good Rural Citizens fight against Sadistic Motorcycle Gang mixed with "Inspiration From Terminator 2". The acting is rather stony, and there isn't nearly enough horror moments to make it a frightening film (a consistent problem with many of the monster-centric films on this theme). While there isn't a lot of romance we do have the Kid instead, and that's not a trade for the better, and I think the werewolves look a bit corny. The action sequences are murky or non-tense (that's a problem with werewolves, they are both hard to kill and yet die rather easily when they need to), and while I'm sure Elias Koteas and Rhona Mitra both have made worse films they certainly have made better ones too. Okay, Rhona Mitra at least did Doomsday which is far more entertaining.