Aaron Taylor-Johnson is set to terrify audiences in Robert Eggers’ new horror film, Werwulf. The trailer has been released, and while it doesn’t show Taylor-Johnson’s transformation into the titular creature, it implies that it’s going to be a wild ride. The film is set in 13th-century England and follows a humble farmer haunted by an ancient, violent curse. Lily Rose-Depp plays the farmer’s wife as they navigate the dark forces plaguing their village.
The official logline for the film reads: “In 13th-century England, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers.” This is Eggers’ latest project after his 2024 re-imagining of Nosferatu, which also starred Taylor-Johnson. The film reunites Eggers with several cast members from his previous projects, including Rose-Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson.
The Cast and Crew
The movie boasts an impressive cast, including Jan Bijvoet, Jack Morris, Ritchi Edwards, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach. Focus Features describes the film as “a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation and the devil within.” The feature was filmed in an orthochromatic style, similar to black and white, on Super 35 mm film. Eggers has confirmed that the film was inspired by medieval accounts of werewolf lore, and the dialogue was written in Middle English. The filmmaker worked with two Oxford professors on the dialogue and a dialect coach to temper the pronunciation.
It’s worth noting that Eggers has a reputation for creating atmospheric and unsettling films, and Werwulf seems to be no exception. The use of Middle English and the orthochromatic style will likely add to the film’s eerie and immersive atmosphere. The fact that the film is set in 13th-century England also suggests that Eggers is drawing inspiration from historical accounts of werewolf lore, which could make for a fascinating and unique take on the genre.
Marketing and Release
The trailer for Werwulf has been released, and while it doesn’t give away too much, it’s clear that the film is going to be a intense and terrifying experience. The film is scheduled to open in theaters nationwide this Christmas, which seems like an odd choice for a horror movie. However, it’s possible that the studio is trying to capitalize on the holiday season’s tendency to bring people together, and what’s more fun than watching a terrifying horror movie with your family?
It’s also worth noting that the marketing department has likely been working overtime to promote the film, and it’s possible that we’ll see a lot of promotional materials in the coming months. Somewhere, a focus group has probably earned a bonus for suggesting that the film’s trailer should be released in the middle of the summer, and executives have probably nodded very seriously during an expensive meeting to discuss the film’s marketing strategy.
In the end, it’s hard not to be cynical about Hollywood’s latest attempts to scare us. With the Content Mines remaining fully operational, it’s likely that we’ll see a lot more horror movies in the coming years, each one trying to outdo the last in terms of intensity and terror. But hey, at least we have Robert Eggers to bring some semblance of originality to the genre. And who knows, maybe Werwulf will be the film that finally brings some excitement back to the horror genre. But until then, we’ll just have to wait and see if it’s worth all the hype.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
