A Werewolf In England (2020)
I have seen many, many British horror/comedy films over the years. To mention just a few, in chronological order; Carry On Screaming (1966), An American Werewolf In London (1981), Revenge Of Billy The Kid (1991), Dog Soldiers (2002), Asylum Night (2004), Evil Aliens (2005), Small Town Folk (2007), Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009), Blood Moon (2014) and The Snarling (2018). Watching A Werewolf In England is somewhat like viewing a cut-and-paste collage of them all.
The film is most reminiscent of Blood Moon with it’s economically well realised 19th century setting, disparate characters grudgingly united against the lycanthropic threat (the two films also share a cast member, the resoundingly named Barrington De La Roche) and preference for practical effects over CGI. Dog Soldiers, Britain’s first and best Werewolf Siege movie, is another obvious inspiration plotwise. The gross, adolescent, scatological humour is pitched between the tone of Revenge Of Billy The Kid and Evil Aliens, while the calculating, psychopathic innkeepers bring to mind the denizens of such films as Small Town Folk or Inbred.
Director Charlie Steeds has blended the various ingredients and seasoned the mix with good cinematography, a dynamic music score, and competent-to-good performances, resulting in a tasty and satisfying dish that is easy to consume and quick to digest - and best accompanied by a pint of good ale.
