The official review embargo for Werewolf by Night hasn't lifted yet, but it appears those who watched the Marvel Studios Special Presentation at Fantastic Fest are under no obligation to abide by it!
As a result, the first full-length reviews have started hitting Rotten Tomatoes and while only a handful have been counted so far, the Special has debuted with a perfect 100% score. There's a good chance this will change once more reviews land, but it would be quite something for Werewolf by Night to be the first MCU project to boast this percentage once all is said and done.
"The delightful retro horror stylings and a pair of endearing leads successfully distract, at least for a while, from some of the more conventional MCU traits," Bloody Disgusting says, with io9 chiming in to add, "Werewolf by Night is the least MCU entry into the MCU since, well, before the MCU existed. That’s a good thing...[It's] a full on love letter to everything monster and monster movie."
IndieWire awards Werewolf by Night a B+ and notes that, "Utilizing elements of dark comedy, light romance, and friendship, Werewolf by Night is successfully able to balance fun and fright." Slashfilm, meanwhile, promises that this is "A fun monster movie homage from Marvel."
So, it sounds like we're in for quite a treat next week. Hopefully, Marvel Studios will do a little more to build excitement over the coming days as it would be nice to get another look at what's to come from this supernatural character's MCU debut.
In Werewolf by Night, on a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader's life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
The first Marvel Studios Special presentation premieres on Disney+ on October 7.