Skip to main content

Teen Wolf: The Movie (2023)

 



Teen Wolf: The Movie is about werewolves fighting against a firefly demon enemy.

About halfway through the movie, it dawned on me that perhaps this was based on a CW show and when I looked it up I found out it was MTV. The movie is very much written for an audience who has seen the show as many characters and their powers are not introduced. 

Directed by Russell Mulcahy, who also directed the TV show, 1986's Highlander, and more recently the two episodes of Netflix's TV series 13 Reasons Why. I'm not sure what the budget of the film was, but surely they could have spent more on the CGI as it's of the quality of Charmed or Buffy. This is 2023 though, audiences expect better. There are also some camera positions that are questionable and fog also just lingers in specific areas which I suppose is more of a production design issue. The sets are sometimes unbelievable and sometimes the backgrounds are obviously computer generated. The music also swells sometimes then dies down immediately as if it was just there for character reveal.

Will Wallace and Joseph P. Genier are the writers of the show and movie. From only seeing the movie I can tell they lean heavily on sticky dialogue and exposition. The plot is very bizarre and scenes jump from one to another without any flow. I found myself asking my tv "What?" after hearing something really weird that didn't make sense and the movie didn't set up for it. This happened a few times as the movie really just jumps around.

The cast is pretty large. I expect many people to have fan favorites but for a new audience, I felt like it was over-crowded. The worst of the acting came from JR Bourne as half the time he was wooden the other half was overacting and like he was reading a cue card next to the cameraman. The best acting came from Holland Roden, but her character introduction was weird, with bad camera work, and then suddenly she's scribbling on her desk. I remember her from Escape Room: Tournament of Champions but little else. Seth Gilliam is in this movie from The Walking Dead, but here he has one expression. I mean it worked in The Walking Dead but here it just felt boring. His scenes felt like they were one-takes and the director didn't bother to ask them to act better.

The movie is cringy to watch and I doubt I would have enjoyed the TV show after seeing the movie. Roden keeps this movie from being the absolute worst. D-



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

One Battle After Another (2025)

One Battle After Another (2025) is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson , who is no stranger to ambitious projects after films like Licorice Pizza  and, one of the best films of all time,  There Will Be Blood.  His direction once again shows his knack for blending complex characters with striking visuals, though the film occasionally falters in how it handles some of its supporting roles. Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio , known for The Wolf of Wall Street and Titanic , is nothing short of amazing. He completely commits to the role, bringing intensity and emotional depth that anchors the movie. Oscar winner Sean Penn , best remembered for Mystic River and Milk , transforms himself into a truly awful villain. His presence is unsettling and effective, giving the story one of its strongest dramatic cores. Oscar winner  Benicio Del Toro , from Sicario and Traffic , plays the calm and collected Sensei with quiet authority. His controlled performance contrasts...

The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025)

The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025) is directed by Renny Harlin , who also helmed The Strangers: Chapter 1 earlier in the year. Much like its predecessor, this sequel leans into style and shock value, but Harlin does a slightly better job balancing tension with atmosphere. Filmed back-to-back-to-back with the rest of the trilogy over 52 days in Slovakia, the production feels rushed but not without improvement. Madelaine Petsch , known for Riverdale and Sightless , returns as the lead and noticeably carries the film. Her performance is sharper this time, showing more range and conviction despite the quick filming turnaround. She brings much-needed emotional weight that the script itself often lacks. Ema Horvath , who appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and What Lies Below , gets more focus here. While her character is central to the story, the writing doesn’t give her much depth beyond moving the plot along. Still, she holds her own against the chaos. Richard Brake ...

Caught Stealing (2025)

Caught Stealing (2025) is directed by Darren Aronofsky , known for Black Swan and The Whale , with the screenplay adapted by Charlie Huston . Aronofsky keeps the tension high while balancing gritty realism with stylized action sequences, creating a film that feels raw yet cinematic. Especially with Bad Bunny's  main scene. Austin Butler , acclaimed for Elvis and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , commands the screen with a performance that rivals his breakout role. He brings emotional depth to a very flawed yet sympathetic protagonist. Zoe Kravitz , recognized for The Batman and Mad Max: Fury Road , delivers one of her strongest performances to date, adding nuance and sharp charisma to the story. Matt Smith , best known for Doctor Who and Last Night in Soho , brings a unique 90s persona that makes his scenes stand out.  Liev Schreiber , from Ray Donovan and X-Men Origins: Wolverine , and Vincent D'Onofrio , known for Daredevil and Full Metal Jacket , both add subtle humo...