'Werewolves Within (2021)' is a quaint little horror-inflected whodunnit based on the video-game of the same name, itself based on a popular parlour game that makes one member of a group a secret killer who must pick off their companions one by one without getting caught. The film is pretty much the perfect adaptation of those things insofar as it achieves the same result: a single session's worth of warm-hearted fun with just a hint of grim frustration. There isn't anything especially complex or, even, all that exemplary about the overall affair, but it's a cute and enjoyable experience that provides plenty of chuckles thanks to its eclectic cast of high-strung suspects and its increasingly frenzied approach to its central concept. I managed to successfully pinpoint the eponymous werewolf, who may or may not be an actual creature of the night, within minutes of their very first appearance. However, that isn't really an issue because the flick still features a slew of smaller yet more surprising twists. Besides, this is much more about the journey than the destination, even though the finale is fairly satisfying in its own right. Ultimately, this is just a solid slice of disposable fun. It's really earnest and endearing. It isn't hilarious and it isn't horrific, but it is funny and it is suspenseful on more than one occasion. Though it likely won't stay with you for very long, it's an entertaining in-the-moment experience that's perhaps best described in the same way as its refreshingly considerate protagonist: nice.
Review of Werewolves Within
