The Gutter’s own Carol Borden is fortunate enough to be (remotely) attending the Overlook Film Festival 2024 and has some thoughts on Larry Fessenden’s new werewolf movie, Blackout:

Charlie (Alex Hurt) is trying to escape Talbot Falls but can’t quite get out. A town with that name is doomed to have a werewolf problem–and it does–but it also has a corrupt and racist local land developer problem. Unfortunately, both problems are tasking Charlie. He’s a fine arts painter, but makes his living working construction. And it’s not exactly a spoiler that Charlie is a werewolf. The question is whether Charlie knows and what is to be done about it. Charlie is trying to leave town because while he doesn’t specifically remember what happened to him or what he does on the night of the full moon, he dreams about it and it shows up in his painting.

Blackout has so many things I like going for it: werewolves, paintings, animation, werewolves with human legs, and practical make-up and effects. The opening is fantastic with a desaturated night time palette as a couple makes love in a field—interrupted by a slash of garish red as a werewolf attacks. While much of Blackout is a lo fi slow burn and focused on character, mundane life, and a toxic community, the gore is also pretty good. All of which I expect from writer/director Larry Fessenden. Some people might want the movie to move a little faster or include more gross kills, but I enjoy Blackout‘s blend of character, werewolfery and artiness. And it has the best werewolf driving a car scene since Tony Zarrindest’s Werewolf (1996). And I love the animated transformation sequences–ink and pen ones by John Mitchell and paint animation by James Siewert. It is nicely in accord with the practical make-up and special effects in the film.

Read more of Carol’s thoughts here.

Blackout will also be available on streaming platforms from MPI Media Group / Dark Sky Films after Overlook on April 12^th