3/5 STARS - Werewolves is an independently financed and distributed horror/thriller movie by Steven C. Miller and starring Frank Grillo and Lou Diamond Phillips (in a minor role). I'll be honest, Grillo + werewolves was the main reason I wanted to see this film. The best way I can think to quickly summarize the movie is to say that it's like The Purge, but with werewolves. The premise of the story is that it's a year after a supermoon has first triggered a werewolf gene in the population and the second supermoon is on the way while scientists work to figure out a cure. As you can imagine, things don't go according to plan. Grillo is great in this, as always (and I couldn't help but notice the multiple eye candy moments given to the audience to show off his impressive physique), but some writing issues (which I won't go into here) hold this back from being a half star to a star higher. However, the impressive visual/practical effects of the creatures work in its favor - especially considering the indie/low budget nature of the production, giving it an extra half star to one star more than I might have rated it otherwise. Overall, Werewolves is a fun enough viewing experience for fans of action/horror - and lycanthropes. Werewolves opens in theaters this weekend.
