The Trailer:
Cast: Nick Damici
Synopsis: After moving into a retirement community, Ambrose (Nick Damici)—a blind, Vietnam veteran— begins to suspect that there is a werewolf attacking his new neighbors.
There is a real effort to make this movie something more than just any run-of-the-mill werewolf flick, which I will applaud. Most importantly, this isn't a movie focused on young kids or teenagers forced to accept that (1) there is a werewolf and (2) destroy it. This movie is set in a retirement settlement, so obviously all the residents are older people. In regards to horror movies in general, this is a nice change of pace. From our protagonist being an older man, we get a sense of wisdom know-how: he's not some clueless kid just trying to survive. Adding to that, since he's older, we get an idea that perhaps he's not afraid to die having already lived life, and so will do what it takes to save the people of the community. Ambrose is a Vietnam vet, which at first kind of just seems like a random detail to give him depth, but this fact actually adds depth to the story and creates parallels between him and the werewolf. In the war, Ambrose thought he was going to be a hero and save lives, instead he was forced to take lives, therefore leading to a transformation within himself; a transformation from hopeful to bitter. Further, because of Ambrose's bitter disposition, he becomes a beast, if you will, among the community. All the other residents are afraid of him, want him gone, like they should feel towards the werewolf except they don't know the werewolf exists. All of this builds an actual story. Rather than simply focusing on the horror of the werewolf, we are forced to recognize how the cruelty of life can make a beast of us. And the movie is filled with philosophical and abstract thinking that I just loved: there are questions of faith, pondering of what makes us do the things we do as humans, the consequences we deserve, salvation and absolution. Truly profound.
While I did wholly appreciate the weight and depth of the conflicts Ambrose is experiencing, there are some questionable things that take place. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, the dialogue seems a little silly. But, really, that can be overlooked. And I suggest you do, because the dialogue gets better as the movie progresses, especially between Ambrose and Father Roger. Another thing that I questioned was how Ambrose so quickly realized that there was a werewolf in their midst. Literally, as soon as he moves into his new home he is already beginning to suspect some kind of beast attack. I have two guesses why: 1) Ambrose has encountered a werewolf before in his life or 2) due to his blindness, his other heightened senses have keenly identified the beast that attacks his neighbor to be that of a werewolf. I can be okay with those explanations, though it still kind of irks me that I don't know. Moving on. The one thing I disliked most about this movie was the werewolf: he just looked like a weird furry elf or, uhh, I don't know. But he wasn't scary looking. However, I did genuinely like the actual human-to-wolf transformation. It was kind of a throwback to 80's special effects and it is awesome! Furthermore, the infection (is that the right word to use?) of the werewolf isn't directly explained, it's said more in a allegorical tone and not super in your face, dumping a bunch of info at you! I liked it.
Finally, Late Phases isn't what one may be expecting out of a werewolf movie: it's not intensely scary and there are rarely any suspenseful moments. Despite that, though, this is definitely a movie worth watching. It's subtle and steady throughout, only becoming slightly intense within the last twenty minutes or so. Plus, there are rarely any dumb horror clichés in this movie. That is always a plus! I would most def watch Late Phases again!
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