Werewolf By Night (2022)

 

The heirs of Ulysses Bloodstone (and more monster hunters) gather to see who will receive the Bloodstone.  This will allow them to destroy more monsters.  Jack Russel shows up as well, but he is not there to get the stone.  He is there to rescue a friend from these monster demolishers.  There is also some family drama going on, as Vanessa Bloodstone left the family and doesn't seem to be as bloodthirsty as some of the other hunters.  With the help of Vanessa, Jack does free his friend Ted, also known as the Man-Thing.  Jack and Vanessa get caught.  The hunters use the Bloodstone to bring out the wolf in Jack, who wreaks a terrible amount of destruction on them, but remembers Vanessa and spares her.   Jack leaves and Vanessa assumes the throne of the Bloodstones.

This was a pleasant surprise.  Aside from the improved effects and slight gore, it was a delightful homage to Universal horror movies of the 40s.  It was even mostly shot in black and white.  It was nice to see the Man-Thing (who really is not a copy of Swamp Thing, since both came from earlier plant monsters, i.e. The Heap) portrayed as having a brain, rather than the reactive creature it is in the comics.  The werewolf makeup was right out of Don Perlin, via the Werewolf of London.  It took a minute to get used to, but the live-action presentation looked good.

I really enjoyed this.  Whatever knows fear, burns at the Man-Thing's touch!