The First Reactions To Marvel Studios' Inaugural TV Special 'Werewolf By Night' Are Here

The social media embargo has just been lifted for Marvel Studios’ first ever TV (and holiday) special Werewolf by Night!

That means that thoughts and opinions of the film from critics and other entertainment journalists are just starting to pour in.

Check out what some of our peers are already saying about the latest entry in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe down below!

Marvel took a big swing with #WerewolfByNight and they knocked it out of the park. I love how the campy horror vibes blended with the Marvel style! @GaelGarciaB is the perfect actor to play Jack Russell and Man Thing will become a fan favourite! @m_giacchino didn't disappoint. pic.twitter.com/jSdxOnIR7j
— BSL (@bigscreenleaks) September 26, 2022

Didn’t expect the first #FantasticFest Secret Screening to be #WerewolfByNight directed by @m_giacchino one of my favorite composers. If you’re nostalgic for creature features of the 1930s this will be right up your alley. There’s plenty of blood and gore, and exciting fights. pic.twitter.com/1LYqP0jWJP
— Chris Stuckmann (@Chris_Stuckmann) September 26, 2022

#WerewolfByNight is the MCU Halloween treat I was hoping for! A delightful ode to the classic monster movies with MCU-level stuntwork, production design & effects. LOVED the dynamic between Gael García Bernal & Laura Donnelly's characters and … pic.twitter.com/6KFGTcxZE9
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) September 26, 2022

#WerewolfByNight is a classic Hollywood monster movie you won’t want to end. SPOOKY and STRIKING, it’s one of the coolest things EVER to come out of the MCU. @GaelGarciaB is thrilling to watch suppress the beast within. More Jack Russell! What can’t @m_giacchino do at this point? pic.twitter.com/P1AB1702td
— Daniel Baptista – The Movie Podcast (@dbapz) September 26, 2022

#WerewolfByNight is a wholly unique MCU tale—a refreshing palette cleanser, even with its flaws.

While Man-Thing and Elsa Bloodstone both shine, the Werewolf doesn’t look great and needed more scenes.

Also, many relevant lore questions could’ve used further exploration. pic.twitter.com/wtlGs8vrNQ
— Russ Milheim (@RussMilheim) September 26, 2022

#WerewolfByNight is the most idiosyncratic MCU project since GOTG. As good? No. But it’s a remarkable breath of fresh air to see Marvel try something like this, as its tone and style are VERY MUCH that of the trailer.

More like this, please. Comics are weird. Let’s be weird. 🐺 pic.twitter.com/Z2kCmEYohM
— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) September 26, 2022

#werewolfbynight feels like an instant classic and immediately rewatchable. The fact that the entire production was as practical as possible – from the set, to the costumes, etc made this feel realer than any thing we’ve seen in the MCU.
— James Viscardi (@JimViscardi) September 26, 2022

Got the opportunity to catch #WerewolfByNight a bit early and this honestly may be my favorite Phase Four MCU project yet. It's brutal, it's chilling, it's effectively tongue-in-cheek, it's Marvel's first real dive into horror and is done so well. pic.twitter.com/iMkGM1n0Dw
— Grant Hermanns (@grantheftautho) September 26, 2022

loved #werewolfbynight. @m_giacchino knocked it out of the park with his @MarvelStudios directorial debut and hope he's directing again soon. Surprised by how much he got away with and am so happy it's unlike anything else Marvel has done. On @DisneyPlus Oct 7
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/KQf8tp09Uo
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 26, 2022

My #WerewolfByNight thoughts: Marvel's new MCU monsters and leads are awesome, as is Michael Giacchino's direction & music as well! The supporting characters are not on the same level, but Werewolf By Night is still a thrilling Halloween special they should keep doing more of. pic.twitter.com/AARanUHjw4
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) September 26, 2022

I love #WerewolfByNight! The throwback black and white classic horror approach works perfectly for the story and feels so unique within the MCU. It’s an exciting example of how they can push boundaries. The cast are great and I hope to see more of them and of this type of thing. pic.twitter.com/YJoTqmPXWo
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) September 26, 2022

The upcoming special will star Gael Garcia Bernal (Coco) will star as the titular Werewolf, who goes by Jack Russell by day. Laura Donnelly (The Nevers) will co-star. For those unfamiliar with the character, originally known as Jack Russell, he inherited the ability to transform into a werewolf from his father who was also a warlock. When he moonlights as the creature, as expected, he’s granted superhuman strength and stamina.

Marvel recently revived the character in April 2020 with Werewolf by Night #1, a miniseries starring Jake Gomez, created by the writing team consisting of Black Eyed Peas‘ Taboo, Benjamin Jackendoff and Scot Eaton. In this version, Jake, aka. Red Wolf, is a member of the Hopi Native American tribe whose family has been cursed with lycanthropy. Jake Gomez has the same transformation abilities like Jack Russell. Werewolf By Night is probably most known for his frequent association with Moon Knight, who is set to have his own Disney+ series starring Oscar Isaac as the titular character.