The color re-release casts doubt on Marvel’s promise of horror content in Werewolf by Night
Nostalgia for classic horror and the magic of black and white fades with Marvel’s decision to color Werewolf by Night. THE fanshaving enthusiastically embraced the stylistic audacity of the original version, they now find themselves in front of a screen that extracts from us that sense of homage to a bygone era of horror.
Where was the horror Marvel promised?
Last year, wonder He gave us an unexpected gem, a piece that revered the roots of horror cinema. Werewolf by Night not only surprised, but became a beacon of innovation within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But was the color re-release a misstep in this journey into the macabre?
Werewolf by Night’s long-awaited Halloween special arrived with a promise: to be the vanguard of a new branch dedicated to horror in the MCU. However, despite the warm welcome of the fans, a year later nothing new has been deployed under this banner. The color version feels like a feeble attempt to deliver on a promise, leaving fans yearning for a deeper dive into Marvel’s monster slayer.
Homage to terror in black and white
THE directors of Werewolf by Night fought for their creative vision: a piece of black and white cinema that resonated with the glory days of horror cinema. The color, although already shot, was a concession to Marvel’s uncertainty. The public’s acceptance of the monochrome version demonstrated that an appreciation for the classics still exists. Therefore, launching in color only detracts from a bold creative decision and a product that had already proven its worth.
By eliminating the grayscale, the subtleties disappear. Details like the animatronic corpse and the color transition during the key moment where Elsa Bloodstone takes possession of the legendary gem stand out in contrast. In its colored version, these key moments lose strength and the essence that made them unique is diluted.
The hidden legacy of the night hunter
In the order of Werewolf at nightThe protagonist Jack Russell plays a crucial role, inheriting the curse of the werewolf that binds him inexorably to the dark mantle of classic horror. This tormented figure, whose origin dates back to the comics of the 70s, emerges as a pillar in the construction of the wonderful horror universeoffering narrative depth that transcends special effects and vibrant tones.
The decision to keep him in the shadow of black and white was not a simple aesthetic whim, but an immersion in the essence of his legacy; A homage to its Gothic roots and a wink to fans of full moon stories. The comparison with characters like Lama OR Morbiusalso born in the shadow of Marvel, it provokes a reflection on how the color palette can influence the viewer’s perception and emotional connection with the heroes of the night.
Repetition may seem like a safe option, but isn’t innovation what made Marvel? THE fans They expected not a recolored portrait, but a real expansion of this universe, perhaps in the form of a new series or a special that further explored the dark side of Marvel, a shame that a story that was so fleetingly wasted it could have expanded every Halloween of every year.