“Teen Wolf: The Movie,” starring Tyler Posey, was released on the streaming service Paramount+ on January 26, 2023.
In this movie, the wolves are howling once again, as a terrifying ancient evil emerges in Beacon Hills. Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), no longer a teenager yet still an Alpha, must gather new allies and reunite trusted friends to fight back against this potent and deadly enemy.
The film follows McCall as he tries to protect his West Coast town from a new threat. He rounds up the Banshee, Werecoyote, Hellhound and Kitsunes, as well as other shapeshifters of the night.
With the help of his new allies, trusted friends, and the return of a long lost love, McCall and his pack just might stand a chance.
Aside from Posey, cast members Crystal Reed, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes, Shelley Hennig, Dylan Sprayberry, Linden Ashby, Melissa Ponzio, and JR Bourne, all reprise their roles in this film, and their reunion is quite promising. There is a natural growth and maturity to these characters where one would forget the 15-year time jump.
Every actor has something unique to offer, and they do well with what they have. The film can be emotional at times, the acting all around is commendable, shot expertly by Russell Mulcahy, and the suspense is palpable.
Crystal Reed and Posey’s chemistry is still top-notch, and it feels like it never left. Their rapport is sincere, and that allows for more resonance.
Posey is able to soar in the high-adrenaline action scenes as well as the subtle, heartfelt scenes. The fans will sympathize with his character.
The absence of the character Stiles Stilinski (played by Dylan O’Brien) is noticeable in this revival, and the same holds true for the badass Kira Yukimura (portrayed by Arden Cho).
Charlie Carver, who played Ethan in the original MTV series, is missing from the revival. His character was gay, and in a relationship with Jackson, Colton Haynes’ character.
While the screenplay by Jeff Davis may be subpar — falling short in a few areas — the solid direction by Mulcahy and the cinematography by David Daniel more than make up for it.
Also, the two hour and 20-minute duration might feel rather long for most viewers, and they could have easily told the story in well under two hour’s time (or even 90 minutes). The plot twist is a bit eccentric and it is bound to leave the audience baffled.
The stunt choreography is high-octane, and the visual effects are creative and striking. Judging from its cliffhanger ending, it looks like there will be a sequel to this original film.
The inclusion of Tyler Posey’s original song, the up-tempo and spitfire “Lemon” at the end credits of the film is an added musical treat since it is the quintessential musical counterpart; moreover, it features Posey’s rich, resonant vocals, and his wide range as a contemporary artist.
From a streaming standpoint, “Teen Wolf: The Movie” was a commercial success since it shattered the Paramount+ record as the most watched original movie on its first day of debut.
The Verdict
Overall, “Teen Wolf: The Movie” is recommended for fans of fantasy, suspense, action, mystery, and drama. There is a rawness and nostalgia to it like no other.
While the film isn’t perfect, it deserves to be checked out, especially by fans and viewers of the original “Teen Wolf” series.
For anybody unfamiliar with the franchise, it may help to binge a few of the early seasons to help them understand the plot better. “Teen Wolf: The Movie” garners a B rating.
