“I didn’t choose to become a werewolf. I can’t face the fact that I’ve got to go around killing and eating people for the rest of my life.”
Andy-An American Werewolf In Paris
Werewolf films have always intrigued me with their potential for primal fear and transformative horror. Yet, it seems Hollywood struggles to capture the essence of a great werewolf story. Werewolves Within and The Wolf of Snow Hollow managed to reinvigorate the genre recently, so I thought I’d dig into a lesser-known title: Bad Moon
Bad Moon follows Ted (Michael Paré), a photojournalist who returns to his sister Janet’s (Mariel Hemmingway) home after surviving a werewolf attack. As strange incidents start occurring, their protective German Shepherd, Thor, senses danger and suspects Ted is a werewolf.
I’ve never seen a film so disjointed. Bad Moon has three separate opening scenes. The first is the best, but it feels completely out of place. It would have made more sense to convey this through Ted’s dreams or flashbacks. There is zero tension or suspense in this film, and keeping the opening events somewhat secretive would have helped.
Michael Paré is an abomination in this film. His performance is the closest thing to Tommy Wiseau in The Room I’ve seen. Hemmingway isn’t much better. She has talent. We’ve seen her win awards, but she looks completely lost in Bad Moon. Even the dog’s acting is terrible. Several times, you can tell someone off-screen is giving Thor commands.
The novel Thor, told through the dog’s eyes, had the potential for a compelling adaptation. By focusing more on Thor’s perspective, the film could have created a unique sense of tension and loyalty. However, the script mostly abandons this idea, losing what could have been an intriguing narrative angle. The dialogue is terrible and delivered stiffly. This script is awful on multiple levels. This movie is only 80 minutes long and a lot of that time is chewed up by long establishing shots or awkward exposition.
Bad Moon looks beautiful. It was shot on location in the Pacific Northwest, and the setting makes a perfect backdrop for a werewolf film. Unfortunately, the landscape is never explored, and the only shots we get are transitional. The practical effects are another standout. The wolf design is well done and menacing.
Bad Moon is one of the worst Halloweenfest films. While it showcases beautiful location shots and impressive practical werewolf effects, the film is ultimately let down by terrible performances, disjointed storytelling, and a lack of suspense. The original concept—telling the story from the dog Thor’s perspective—could have brought a unique angle, but Eric Red decided to make one of the most boring films possible.
Rating: 2/10
