News

New Release Review: Late Phases is One Hell of a Werewolf Movie

Published

9 years ago

November 26, 2014

Though it’s a blanket statement that admittedly doesn’t apply to every single movie, there tends to be a big difference between theatrically-released horror films and ones that go straight to VOD. Never have those differences been more clear than in 2014, which has been a fantastic year for the latter and an absolutely terrible one for the former.

Late Phases is yet another reason why the home is currently the best place to consume horror.

Directed by Spanish filmmaker Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Here Comes the Devil) and released onto VOD outlets (and in limited theaters) this past Friday, Late Phases centers on blind army veteran Ambrose McKinley, who moves into a retirement community at the start of the film.

On his first night there, Ambrose’s neighbor and dog are savagely attacked by a beast that he cannot see, and it soon becomes clear to him that a werewolf resides within the community. With the next full moon approaching in 30 days, Ambrose prepares himself for battle, and sets out to discover who among him harbors the beast within.

[youtube id=”EJgXfzSYehk”]

If I had to pick out one main difference between Hollywood horror and independent horror it’d have to be that indie horror tends to be more concerned with story, as the lack of a widespread theatrical release frees filmmakers to focus on what matters, rather than on what makes money. And what matters, more than anything, is story.

Like all the best horror movies that have gone straight-to-VOD this year, Late Phases is character-driven above all else, to the point that a large chunk of the film has little to do with the impending werewolf threat. Though the movie is book-ended by sizeable hunks of horror, the majority of the runtime is spent simply tracking Ambrose’s day-to-day life, as he attends church gatherings and struggles to bond with his son – and everyone else he comes into contact with.

Played by the always fantastic Nick Damici (Stake Land), Ambrose is one of the best and most memorable horror movie characters of the year, the sort of grizzled war vet that it’s hard not to love. He’s a total dick and he makes no apologies about it, but you just know deep down, within mere moments of meeting him, that there’s a lot more going on beyond the gruff exterior. Think Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, right down to the beloved dog and affinity for guns.

Late Phases werewolf

Though the real joy of Late Phases is simply being a fly on the wall of Ambrose’s life, make no mistake about it: this is one hell of a werewolf movie. While cinema werewolves have mostly been computer generated for the last several years, the one(s) on display in Late Phases are entirely practical, and holy shit do they look awesome.

Admittedly, the design of the wolves teeters on the brink of badass and corny, but I say that in the most loving way possible. Practical effects are always better than CGI when it comes to movie monsters, and Late Phases is home to a handful that will have fans of 80s horror movies howling with sheer delight.

And yes, there’s a transformation scene. And yes, it is one of the best in many years. I’d kiss your feet if your feet were in front of me, Robert Kurtzman.

As good of a werewolf movie as it is, perhaps the most impressive thing about Late Phases is the way it transcends that sub-genre, delivering all of the familiar elements that you’d expect but neatly wrapping them up inside of a story that’s about so much more than hairy monsters. There’s plenty of horror going on here, to be sure, but it’s the heart, humor and genuine emotion of Bogliano’s English-language debut that set it apart from the pack. This is a surprisingly human story, at the end of the day.

Late Phases

Not only is Late Phases one of the very best horror films that 2014 has to offer but it’s also one of the downright best werewolf movies in years. There aren’t too many recent movies from that sub-genre that have delivered the goods, and this one effectively serves as a big ole apology for all that CG-laden nonsense the last few years have brought to the table.

Bottom line: Late Phases is a senior citizen Silver Bullet. And I can’t think of any higher praise than that. Rent it. Immediately.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Topics:Late Phases Movie Reviews Werewolves

News

Live Action Scooby-Doo Reboot Series In Works at Netflix

Published

55 mins ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The ghosthunting Great Dane with an anxiety problem, Scooby-Doo, is getting a reboot and Netflix is picking up the tab. Variety is reporting that the iconic show is becoming an hour-long series for the streamer although no details have been confirmed. In fact, Netflix execs declined to comment.

If the project is a go, this would be the first live-action movie based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon since 2018’s Daphne & Velma. Before that, there were two theatrical live-action movies, Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), then two sequels that premiered on The Cartoon Network.

Currently, the adult-oriented Velma is streaming on Max.

Scooby-Doo originated in 1969 under the creative team Hanna-Barbera. The cartoon follows a group of teenagers who investigate supernatural happenings. Known as Mystery Inc., the crew consists of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and his best friend, a talking dog named Scooby-Doo.

Normally the episodes revealed the hauntings they encountered were hoaxes developed by land-owners or other nefarious characters hoping to scare people away from their properties. The original TV series named Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! ran from 1969 to 1986. It was so successful that movie stars and pop culture icons would make guest appearances as themselves in the series.

Celebrities such as Sonny & Cher, KISS, Don Knotts, and The Harlem Globetrotters made cameos as did Vincent Price who portrayed Vincent Van Ghoul in a few episodes.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

BET Releasing New Original Thriller: The Deadly Getaway

Published

58 mins ago

April 30, 2024

Cameron McFarland

BET will soon be offering horror fans a rare treat. The studio has announced the official release date for their new original thriller, The Deadly Getaway. Directed by Charles Long (The Trophy Wife), this thriller sets up a heart racing game of cat and mouse for audiences to sink their teeth into.

Wanting to break up the monotony of their routine, Hope and Jacob set off to spend their vacation at a simple cabin in the woods. However, things go sideways when Hope’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a new girl at the same campsite. Things soon spiral out of control. Hope and Jacob must now work together to escape the woods with their lives.

The Deadly Getaway is written by Eric Dickens (Makeup X Breakup) and Chad Quinn (Reflections of US). The Film stars, Yandy Smith-Harris (Two Days in Harlem), Jason Weaver (The Jacksons: An American Dream), and Jeff Logan (My Valentine Wedding).

Showrunner Tressa Azarel Smallwood had the following to say about the project. “The Deadly Getaway is the perfect reintroduction to classic thrillers, which encompass dramatic twists, and spine-chilling moments. It showcases the range and diversity of emerging Black writers across genres of film and television.”

The Deadly Getaway will premiere on 5.9.2024, exclusively ion BET+.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

‘Talk To Me’ Directors Danny & Michael Philippou Reteam With A24 for ‘Bring Her Back’

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

A24 didn’t waste any time snatching up the Philippou brothers (Michael and Danny) for their next feature titled Bring Her Back. The duo have been on a short list of young directors to watch for since the success of their horror film Talk to Me.

The South Australian twins surprised many people with their debut feature. They were mostly known for being YouTube pranksters and extreme stuntmen.

It was announced today that Bring Her Back will star Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Willy Wonka) and begin filming this summer. No word yet on what this film is about.

Talk To Me Official Trailer

Although its title sounds like it could be connected to the Talk to Me universe this project doesn’t appear to be related to that film.

However, in 2023 the brothers revealed a Talk to Me prequel was already made which they say is a screen life concept.

“We actually shot an entire Duckett prequel already. It’s told entirely through the perspective of mobile phones and social media, so maybe down the line we can release that,” Danny Philippou told The Hollywood Reporter last year. “But also while writing the first film, you can’t help but write scenes for a second film. So there’s so many scenes. The mythology was so thick, and if A24 gave us the opportunity, we wouldn’t be able to resist. I feel like we’d jump at it.”

In addition, the Philippous are working on a proper sequel to Talk To Me something they say they have already written sequences for. They are also attached to a Street Fighter film.