Robert Eggers has explored a variety of horror archetypes throughout his filmmaking career, from witches to vampires to fantastical warriors, and with his upcoming Werwulf, he’s set to deliver a story about, well, a werewolf. What often appeals to horror fans in Eggers’ movies is his devotion to authenticity, as his meticulous recreation of era-appropriate costumes, sets, and language then makes the more otherworldly elements feel all the more real.
Continuing his trend of honoring actual history, Eggers has drawn on real-life encounters to inspire his story of lycanthropy, to the point that even the character that Willem Dafoe plays was based on an actual person. While speaking with The Playlist, Dafoe explained how he drew inspiration from the historical figure.
“He’s a man on a mission. So that can make some people crazy,” the actor revealed. “But one interesting thing is he’s the only character in the movie that’s based on a real-life person. A man that was, and I don’t think this gives anything away, but it was a man that was selected by the king to eliminate all the wolves from England because England at that time was very poor.”
He continued, “And the only thing that they did have of wealth was wool. That was a big export. That was what put money into the coffers of the king. So it was very important to eliminate the wolves. And my guy is that guy.”
While we have gotten glimpses of the new movie in a teaser and a trailer, there’s still a lot that’s unknown about the movie’s actual plot. Focus Features describes the movie, “Witness Robert Eggers’ most visceral and haunting experience yet. Focus Features presents Werwulf, a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation and the devil within.”
Also starring in the movie are Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nosferatu), Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu), Ralph Ineson (The Witch), and Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Hamnet).
Based on early teases of the movie and its overall premise, Werwulf looks to be the most intense and outright horrifying movie of Eggers’ career. While previous efforts like The Witch or The Lighthouse showed restraint in delivering its unsettling components, a movie with a man transforming into a brutal and bloodthirsty beast lends itself to unrelenting terror.
Werwulf is set to hit theaters on December 25.
Are you looking forward to the new movie? Let us know in the comments below!
