Bad Moon

Dir: Eric Red (Body Parts)
Cast: Mariel Hemingway, Michael Paré, Mason Gamble
USA, 1996

Seen: May 11, 2010 on DVD

Reason to Watch & Review: For The Wolfathon *

I went into this one totally blind and with only 2 things know about the film. 1) Werewolf film (meets criteria!) and 2) Michael Paré (bonus!). So, yeah... the thing about going into things totally blind is that results can certainly vary.

I got a little worried when after the title came up it said "Based on the novel Thor". Thor? What's not terribly wolf-like. Especially since up until then there was no sign of a Thor. Turns out he's the family dog. Oh boy. Family dog. In a werewolf movie. And, clock back there - a family in a wolf movie?

Bad Moon has just about every single in it that I don't like in horror, including ensuring that there is at least some gratuitous nudity (why or why does this keep getting thrown in bad horror movies) and really gory gore moments. Neither are extensive, btut they are present and feel like are literally there for tick-box "Yup, we got that!" reasons.

Oddly, even though I didn't like the above mention 'got that!' moments, it's a pretty traditional werewolf film hitting lots of the marks you'd expect but doesn't really play on many of the themes that can be explored with werewolf films. It also is very self aware of the genre at times and if this had been played for laughs being in a tongue-in-cheek way or winking at the camera it would have made it a lot more fun, but it's done completely deadpan. The effects weren't that great either, and definitely used different techniques at different times which didn't help to keep consistency of tone or style. On the effects note, I would have to give the film kudos for the make up department on the gore - when they went practical it was bloody good. Literally.

Overall it's not my kind of horror film. I'd rather a good story and tension over the perfunctory nudity & gore any day.

Shannon's Overall View:
I didn't enjoy it
I won't watch it again
I'd recommend it werewolf fan completist that like horror of the make-sure-there's-gore-&-nudity variety (but note there isn't much of either)

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© Shannon Ridler, 2010

* The Wolfathon is a marathon exploring werewolf films in anticipation of the 2010 release of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse