Robert Eggers’ Werwulf Unveils Gruesome Christmas in First Trailer
The most surprising Christmas movie of 2024 is Robber Eggers’ chilling vampire saga, Nosferatu. The modern horror maestro is back with another dark offering for genre enthusiasts. Werwulf is set to hit theaters this Christmas, and the first trailer hints at a bloody spectacle featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later, Nosferatu).
The initial trailer for Werwulf dropped this morning, and it captures the grim atmosphere that a gothic horror story demands. While it keeps many details under wraps, it effectively establishes a narrative filled with panic and suspicion in a village. The official synopsis reveals: “In 13th-century England, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers.” The trailer further describes the film as a “tale of devotion, damnation, and the devil within.”
The trailer concludes with a gripping moment where Johnson appears to undergo a transformation into the titular creature. One of the most intriguing aspects of the trailer is its 4:3 aspect ratio, giving the film a more square appearance when projected. Eggers has experimented with various aspect ratios in his films, with only his 2022 epic, The Northman, utilizing a wider format that aligns more with typical modern cinema. However, some shots in the trailer suggest that Werwulf will mix color sequences with black-and-white segments.
Werwulf features Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the (presumed) lycanthropic protagonist alongside Lily-Rose Depp. This film marks a reunion for Johnson and Depp with Eggers, following their collaboration in 2024’s Nosferatu. The cast also includes several of Eggers’ regular collaborators, such as Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Nosferatu) and Ralph Ineson (The Witch, The Fantastic Four: First Steps).
On the production side, Eggers is co-writing the script with Icelandic poet Sjón, who previously collaborated with him on The Northman. Eggers’ usual team, Jarin Blaschke and Louise Ford, are back to handle cinematography and editing, respectively.
Over the past decade, Eggers has quickly risen to prominence as a master of horror. His directorial debut, 2015’s The Witch, received widespread acclaim, and he built on that success with The Lighthouse and Nosferatu. Even 2022’s The Northman, while not strictly a horror film, showcases Eggers’ talent for infusing his work with an unsettling sense of dread. Werwulf promises to be another captivating tale that will thrill and chill horror aficionados.
