Tubi Thursday: House of the Wolf Man (2009)

 I enjoy watching Old Movies, trying to relive Classics or just to enjoy the cheesiness on display.

While I'm in a Universal Horror mood (see tomorrow's Review), let me check out a new(er) Film that intentionally tries to look like an old one.

My history with those is very mixed, so here's hoping for the best...

A Castle.
A storm.

A creepy guy opening the door.

This is The Old Dark House, a different James Whale Film...but still Universal.

A bunch of strangers all invited by a Mr. Reinhart to come to his Estate.

The winner of some sort of contest will get it all.

The Master is played by Ron Chaney, the Grandson of Lon Chaney and son of (obviously) Lon Chaney Jr.

He's up to something, but we'll get to that...eventually.

After some watchful paintings, some banter and some foreshadowing, the most forthcoming of the group explains what she has figured out.

They are all related, each one sired by a man/monster that killed their Mother(s).

This isn't Universal Horror- this is The Howling V!

Kudos for the cheap looking Model Castle though.

It's only missing a great shot of lightning striking in front of it to be Universal.
Well, that or a Roger Corman Film.

The Film FINALLY gets to the point as the group has dinner with Reinhart after more foreshadowing (specifically about someone named Bella and the Frankenstein Family Crest).

Reinhart turns into a Wolfman (and obvious double) and kills most of the group.

He's stopped by...the Monster.

At least he looks cool.

Sure- why not throw him in with almost no setup or teasing?!?

I guess that 'Bella' mention is going to lead to Dracula showing up and...yeah, alright then.

Sadly, the Film just kind of ends shortly after that.  The End.

A Film that...I can't recommend that much, sadly.

A Movie like this can work.  Copy the look and feel, but make a new, interesting Film with it.

Barring that, make a good Comedy.

Here's a little secret- not every Universal Horror Film was created equal.  The Classics are considered that for a reason.  Some of the Sequels that are just alright are just old Films also made by Universal.

I wish that this was a good use of the look and feel, but that's really all there is to it.

The final Segment of the Film is fun, even if it does kind of break the Universal illusion with how the action plays out.  If the other 45 minutes or so were half this good, I'd be all over this one.

House of the Wolf Man is a well-meaning, but not that great Film.  It's also not above marketing to, ahem, a different demographic...

A Film that knows what it wants to look and feel like.  If only the same dedication went to making the Film interesting as it did to making it look grainy in black and white.