Wer (2013)

Wer (2013)


Disclaimer: I am a big fan of found footage films and it's so refreshing to find one that is as good as Wer
The 2013 film Wer not only redefines the werewolf movie but also saves it. I try to watch a couple horror movies a day and by doing so you see movies with a good cast or a good story or great direction, you seldom see all three in one film. Wer has it not only a very good veteran cast but excellent story that turns the

legend on it's head and a clear vision by the director that this ain't your Twilight wolf pack.  I don't go into any movie with high hopes and with the werewolf movies that have came out the last couple of years I was a little gun shy on Wer, but this one put my faith back in monster movies.

Written and directed by William Brent Bell known for The Devil Inside and Stay Alive. With Wer he not only reinvents the monster but adds just enough of the old werewolf legend to make us familiar with his new take. With nods to the legend

made famous in the Lon Chaney Jr. films. He lets us think we know what's going on up until he changes what we believe about werewolves. An excellent vision on the monster and well directed cast this just might turn out to be his breakout film. Wer also uses just the right amount of special effect that is so rare in today's CGI world and that alone is worth checking this film out.

The cast is full of recognizable faces from the TV and the big screen, and one unknown that steals the movie making it both scary and believable. Brian Scott O'Connor plays Talan Gwynek who lives a quiet life with his mother in a small hamlet in France and happens to live near where a

vacationing American family is attacked with the father and son being killed. After his arrest we find that he has a rare disease that makes him to weak to commit the crime and cause unusual hyper hair growth. But the only way to tell if he truly has the disease is a special test. The test causes him to turn and we get to see him release his inner beast. The story at this point takes a little bit of a preachy government wants to steal the land turn, but works more like a red herring to what is really going on. I'm not going to say anymore on the plot of the movie except to say "Don't Miss The Chance To See It" The rest of the cast are very good staying within their roles making the characters believable and likable. Starring A.J. Cook best known as Jennifer Jareau on the Tv show Criminal Minds along with longtime actor Sebastian Roché with great support from Vik Sahay and Simon Quarterman whose transformation in the film is astonishing. 

In conclusion if you're looking for a genre defining movie this one is it. I highly recommend searching our the film to see what can happen to an old story when it's seen through fresh eyes.