Silver Bullet: Cheesy Werewolf Goodness (and Some Surprisingly Solid Cinematography)

Okay, so I just rewatched Silver Bullet (1985) and it's even more of a glorious mess than I remembered. I mean, the plot is straight-up Scooby Doo, right? Small town, unexplained murders, turns out it's a werewolf, the end. But even with the inherent silliness (that wheelchair scene, OMG!), I think the cinematography actually elevates it a bit. There are some really interesting shots, especially when they're building suspense before the werewolf attacks. That feeling of dread is amplified thanks to some clever shadows and the long takes. I especially liked the scenes with the storm; they added depth. It wasn't groundbreaking, mind you, but unexpected for what's essentially a B-movie. Corey Haim is adorable, obviously, and Gary Busey gives his usual… Gary Busey performance. Which, honestly, is entertaining in its own way. Everett McGill as the Reverend makes the whole thing work. He plays the conflicted nature of his character really well. You genuinely believe he wants to the town to be safe while also struggling with his condition. The FX are… well, they're very 80s. The werewolf design is definitely not winning any awards for realism, but I kind of love its rubbery charm. Makes it more fun than scary, which I think is the overall vibe they were going for. I think somebody should remake this and fix all the plot-holes, but overall, I had fun watching this one. It's not a great movie, but it's an entertaining one. Anyone who knows the director, let me know, because the pacing is all over the place, but I didn't see the directing on the page! Maybe I'd change my tune if I could analyze that.