Cabin-in-the-woods werewolf flick in rural SoCal with Casper Van Dien

Released in late 2018, this is surprisingly good for what it is, a TV-budget werewolf flick, which pretty much meshes “Dire Wolf,” aka “Dinowolf” (2009), and “Wolves” (2014). If you appreciate those ones, you’ll like this too. Like “Dire Wolf” it’s mostly serious but with a fitting wink of amusement. The alpha male angle is intriguing and the script even throws in something original for a werewolf movie in regards to the curious naked dude.

One eye-rolling sequence involves the couple’s first assault by a hairy man-like creature. They brush it off as if a normal animal radically attacked them when it’s glaring that it’s ANYTHING BUT. If you can roll with this flaw (and the CGI gore), this is a worthwhile werewolf flick that should be enjoyed by anyone who values Grade B horror, especially the cabin-in-the-woods variety, whether the antagonist is a werewolf, sasquatch, slasher, bear or otherwise.

While petite Jennifer Wenger is perfectly agreeable as the female protagonist, Raquel Woodruff stands out in the beauty department; too bad her part wasn’t bigger. Regardless, it’s nice to have a director (Kevin VanHook) who knows how to photograph women for a change (and I’m not tawkin’ bout nudity, although Raquel has a top nude scene for those who care).

Casper & Jennifer were married five months before the movie’s release. Meanwhile Van Dien and Patrick Muldoon appeared together in the cult flick “Starship Troopers” (1997). The hulking Robert Allen Mukes are also on hand.

The film doesn't overstay it's welcome at 1 hour, 25 minutes. It was shot in Southern Cal at Topanga Canyon, Acton and Ramona (Exteriors & Woods).

At the end of the day, this is a totally obscure comic booky werewolf flick, but it shouldn't be. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXi2YszJr4E