How Scary Is Werewolf By Night? Is It Really A Full MCU Horror?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe ventures into horror with Werewolf by Night, but is the Marvel Studios Disney+ Special really that scary? One of the biggest criticisms levied against the MCU over the last decade has been that all the movies and shows have a relatively similar tone and style. Werewolf by Night is the biggest departure from the Marvel formula to date, as the black and white Disney+ Special was marketed as a true exploration of the horror genre in the MCU. Even the official Disney+ page made this distinction, which further created an expectation of Werewolf by Night being the scariest MCU project.

Compared to other MCU productions, Werewolf by Night does mostly live up to the title of being the scariest thing Marvel Studios has ever done. However, it is still a bit of a stretch to label it as truly scary. Director Michael Giacchino achieves strong horror vibes through an eerie score and the black and white look, but whether viewers find it scary will be different depending on how well-versed they are in horror projects. Werewolf by Night is more spooky than it is outright scary (and is not close to 2022's best horror movies), as the special does not feature many jump scares or truly terrifying moments. Still, it manages to be the most horror-tinged MCU project due to the tone it strikes and some imagery at play. Those hoping for a true Marvel horror project could be disappointed, though. Werewolf by Night is a good entry point for the MCU in terms of getting into the horror genre and honoring the 1930s/1940s horror classics that inspired it, but Marvel Studios still has a ways to go to make something that is really scary.

Is Werewolf By Night Too Scary For Kids?

There is still a chance that Werewolf by Night is too scary for kids. Despite the relatively tame nature of Marvel's horror production, younger viewers who are most accustomed to the more light-hearted and fun MCU projects could be scared by this special. Between a handful of attempted jump scares and some frightening images that involve Werewolf by Night, the MCU Special is quite different from anything else Marvel has done. The decision of whether Werewolf by Night is too scary for an individual child is ultimately up to their parent or guardian and knowing how much the specific kid can handle in terms of scares and violence.

The MCU has provided a good potential barometer for parents to determine if Werewolf by Night is too scary for their kids. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features plenty of moments that are creepier and scarier than many of the scenes in Werewolf by Night. If a kid was not scared by moments like Scarlet Witch crawling through mirrors or jumping out from behind Patrick Stewart's Professor X to kill him, they should be okay with what is included in this project. Officially, Werewolf by Night is rated TV-14 by the MPAA, meaning those under 14 might need parental supervision or permission to watch.

Werewolf By Night Is More Violent Than Scary

The surprise of Werewolf by Night could be how much more violent it is than scary and when compared to other MCU projects. Werewolf by Night's powers and the various action sequences do not shy away from showing blood splatter. Whether it is Werewolf by Night biting people, limbs being cut off, or other injuries sustained in combat, Werewolf by Night's violence is much more gruesome and gory than Doctor Strange 2 or a typical Marvel Studios production. The black and white look helps hide some gore, but Werewolf by Night still features some of the more violent moments in any MCU production.

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