Teen Wolf: The Movie streams on Paramount+ in the UK from January 27, 2023.
Synopsis
A terrifying evil has emerged, and the wolves howl once again. Only a Werewolf like Scott McCall can gather both new allies and reunite trusted friends to fight back against what could be the most powerful and deadliest enemy.
Review
It’s been almost six years since Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) appeared on our screens. After six season and 100 episodes, Teen Wolf had built itself a dedicated and rabid audience. In the intervening years there have been plenty of calls for a continuation or a movie. Now Paramount+ is making those fans dreams a reality. But does the franchise still have it’s trademark bite?
The answer to that is fairly complex. On many levels the movie works brilliantly. Reuniting the cast of the show, picking up plot threads years old and pushing them in new directions. Tugging at the audience heartstrings with the prospect of bringing Allison (Crystal Reed) back from the dead. The film also brings back the Nogitsune, a villain from the third season of the series, bringing this version of the franchise full circle.
But at the same time, Teen Wolf: The Movie makes itself almost completely inaccessible to anyone new to the party. Not simply because it uses characters from the past. But because it chooses not to reintroduce them or give context. The arrival of Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin) is treated like a milestone moment. But if you’ve never seen the show and don’t know who Derek Hale is then it’s simply Superman stepping into frame very pointedly.
These moments like the first appearance of Scott, the return of Lydia (Holland Roden) and Jackson (Colton Haynes) are all given similar reverence. Perfect for long-time fans but struggle for meaning without some kind of exposition to give meaning to new viewers.
That being said, it is excellent to see the cast reunited. Particularly with Crystal Reed also returning. The relationships all feel as though they’ve moved on and grown but never loses the sense of what made the 2011 series so compelling in the first place. Of course the only issue us that Posey is now 31 so very much not a TEEN wolf. That’s where newcomer Eli (Vince Mattis) comes in handy. The son of Derek Hale, he fulfils the teen quota in the title and also opens up the potential opportunity for future storytelling in this world.
I’m not going to spoil some of the finer plot points here. The return of Allison is a compelling twist which is connected to the movie’s villain. Though it does feel a little misdirected in the trailer, I enjoyed the way the story constructed her potential resurrection. Crystal Reed has grown so much as an actor that she handles the material thrown at her with ease and she slots right back in to the role which made her famous.
The overall production is perfectly in keeping with the TV series. Practical makeup effects remain a strength of this franchise. Visual effects are a little more difficult to contend with. Smaller moments are well done but some of the film’s set piece scenes are ambitious but don’t land with quite the effect they were intended for.
Verdict
A fun nostalgia trip for fans of the series, Teen Wolf: The Movie struggles to engage new fans by relying solely on plot threads from the past. Whilst it proves there is more story to tell I only wish it could have been more accessible
⭐⭐⭐
