Silver Shining Hope

hellraiser7

Steven King is one of my favorite authors, I really love most of his stories as well as some of the media adaptations. Yeah there are some misses but this one to me is a hit. This film is a bit of a childhood relic of mine as it not just was kinda the first Steven King based film I've seen that got me a little into the author but it was also the first Werewolf film I've seen; which is cool since that is one of my favorite subgeneres in horror and this film is my forth favorite werewolf film.

The suspense was great I really like the use of the darkness which really gave it an oppressive atmosphere where you feel the werewolf could hit anywhere at anytime. Even the effects I think are very solid. From some blood effects, there are a few solid kills and we see the werewolf and it doesn't disappoint I thought it was a very solid design and was pretty scary.

The werewolf villain Reverand Lowe (Everett McGill) is a solid villain. At first he's sympathetic as he is afflicted with this curse of the wolf (though it's never explained how he was cursed, but it doesn't really matter) he really doesn't want to be the wolf and kill people.

But then as the film goes on somehow the curse affects/corrupts his psyche when he begins to provide moral justification for his actions. I find that kind of interesting and makes him really creepy as he is a man of God but we see he has became a religious hypocrite; in a way there is some truth to this as some leaders have used religion and twisted it for their own corrupt ideals.

There is one scene which to me is one of the scariest dream sequences up there with that one dream sequence in "An American Werewolf in London" where the Reverend is giving a eulogy but then everyone in his service turns into werewolves. I'll admit that almost gave me nightmares when I was a kid.

What really makes this film stand out for me is the setting and the family dynamic which really gave this story a sense of familiarity but most importantly care about the protagonists. The small town I felt looked like the kind of small towns I use to grow up and live in. I really like the three protagonists as well as the cast that play them, I like that there is a sense of growth for each of them.

Gary Busey I think is great as Uncle Ned, this is one of my favorite roles from him. It's true that he's not perfect and he's aware of that as he has a bit of a history of alcoholism as well as a bit of irresponsibility.

But he really cares and has good relations with both his niece and nephew, I like that despite disbelieving a little in their plight in killing the werewolf he still supports them and really does try in being responsible and a better person which he does near the end of the film.

Megan Follows is great as Jane Coslaw, I was really surprised seeing that this actress was in this film since she of course is well known for playing Anne Sherley in the "Anne of Green Gables" mini series, let alone the fact this was her film debut. But that's cool and hey a lot of famous actors and actresses I know have had their start in horror films.

But I do like her character as she is a typical teenager whom pretty much wants to do teenage things and I like the chemistry she has with her brother which feels genuine and doesn't feel like stereotypical rivalry as we see both have good relations. Despite the fact that she's a bit older and knows shes growing apart from him a bit deep down she doesn't want to and of course near the end she does grow a bit closer to him.

Corey Halm as Marty Coslaw is great this of course was his second role which really got the wheels turning for him and I personally think this is one of my favorite roles from him. He's my favorite character in the film,

Despite disabled, I love the fact he doesn't let that stop him, as he is a kid whom just want to have a good time. And I like that he has good relations with his sister, even in one scene when she is down he supports her. I really love that one wheelchair he has which is of course named Silver Bullet, as he has a motor that looks like the kind for a go cart which means he can good long distances in a mater of minutes; this of course is a very useful tool for what's to come.

Though for me my favorite scene was when Marty shoots out fireworks but then encounters the werewolf and shoots a bottle rocket into the werewolf's eye, I just thought that was really cool using fireworks against a werewolf.

I really like how the dynamic between both Marty and Jane strengthens as both of them have to face off against the werewolf alone and both are supporting each others beliefs despite the amount of sceptism they endure. This makes us all the more with them because we know their telling the truth. The fact that the werewolf is targeting both of them and their uncle just all the more makes us want them to win.

Overall if your a Steven King fan, werewolf movie fan this film is worth watching. Or even a rookie in both then this film is a good place to start.

Silver Bullet hits the target.

Rating: 4 stars

score 10/10

hellraiser7 15 June 2016

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3488548/