DVD REVIEW: WEREWOLF RISING / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR: BC FURTNEY / SCREENPLAY: BC FURTNEY / STARRING: MELISSA CARNELL, MATT COPKO, BRIAN BERRY / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 8TH
Werewolf Rising is BC Furtney’s latest punt at horror following 2013’s Death Wish knock-off, Do Not Disturb. As with his first attempt, Furtney directs his own messy script for youngblood horror company, Ruthless Pictures. Low-budget horror may very well be the lifeblood and foundation of the genre, but it’s what’s done with the budget that counts, and Werewolf Rising doesn’t do an awful lot.
The characters have about as much charisma as dung beetles. Emma (played by Humans Versus Zombies’ Melissa Carnell) is a recovering alcoholic returning to her childhood home town (yes, that old chestnut), a similar setup to the superior Spanish horror-comedy, Game of Werewolves. Matt Copko deadpans his way through the role of neighbour Johnny Lee, monotonously delivering lines without an ounce of irony.
The thin plot pootles along with a bland score, flitting between moody Americana that fails to tug at the heartstrings and a repetitive John Carpenteresque piano piece. The effects are just as limp: the werewolf sees in a grotty red film, a precursor to uninspired gore effects and a disappointing transformation. The werewolf itself looks like a love child between Predator and Dracula and not half as fun as either.
Werewolf Rising fails as both horror and drama. At 76 minutes it doesn’t require a huge time investment, but you’ll probably want to avoid this one as a bitten man avoids the moon.
Extras: None
