Werewolves Director & Frank Grillo Talk About Practical Effects, The Purge Comparisons

ComingSoon spoke with Werewolves director Steven C. Miller and star Frank Grillo about the new creature feature. The duo discussed the horror film’s use of practical effects, its sequel potential and more. Werewolves is out in theaters on December 6th from Briarcliff Entertainment.

“In Werewolves, a supermoon event has triggered a latent gene in every human on the planet, turning anyone who stepped into the moonlight into a werewolf for one night. Chaos ensued, and close to a billion people died. Now, a year later , the supermoon is back…”, says the synopsis.

Tyler Treese: Frank, you’ve done all kinds of action movies and superhero movies, but how special is it when you actually get to interact with a real practical effect, like these big werewolves in this movie, versus having to imagine it with CGI ?

Frank Grillo: It’s night and day. I didn’t realize how different it was until we did it. We had these giant seven-foot guys in wolf suits, and it was exponentially better to work with the guy across from me. I think the result of (the practical effects) is that the film looks great. I think it’s because everyone was so dialed in because they were practical wolves.

Steven, I wanted to ask you about establishing the tone because it’s always difficult with these kinds of movies. Things are a little naturally heightened because there are werewolves. You have the supernatural element. What’s it like to find that balance where there’s fun, you have tension, but it doesn’t turn into self-parody?

Steven C. Miller: Yes. I think that’s important when you’re dealing with this kind of film, especially when you have a practical werewolf on set. It can be really bad. So I think that’s important when you’re trying to shoot it. We had a great DP, Brandon Cox, who really tried to help me find that tone. It’s all about how you shoot them and feel like you’re really getting these monsters on screen in the right way. But trying to ride that line for me was something I really enjoyed. It was always in the script, even when we were dealing with Frank and talking about how far we could push that line. We just kept pushing the movie, trying to keep the movie intense, trying to keep the movie scary without falling into anything that was cheesy.

Grillo: Yes. There is an element of fear because you have these guys in costumes. At the moment, you’re thinking, “How are we going to make it?” It’s like making old-fashioned movies. When I saw the finished cut and what these guys did in the post, I was blown away.

Miller: Because you have to remember that not only do you have the wolves on the set, but you have all the animatronic guys who deal with all the functions of the wolf and how they move and stuff. So it’s all such an intricate dance trying to get them all working correctly. It goes into how that tone works.

Frank, what also helps the story move forward is that you have the real emotional core of wanting to protect your brother’s family. You have a sister-in-law. That’s the heart there. Can you talk to that element? Obviously we’re there to see you fight werewolves, but it’s good to have the stakes really established there with the family.

Grillo: In movies, I often say this, if there is no story behind the action or behind the scares, it falls flat every time. I did a little film called Wheelman, which was me in a car for 90 minutes, but the story was about me and my daughter, right? We talked about this, and it’s if we don’t connect with my character and Ilfenesh’s character, and the child, my brother’s daughter, if we don’t connect with that, it’s a ton of just action and wolves and blood. That’s the core of the story and that’s what gets people to invest. We need that. You need that. So that element was very important to us.

Miller: That was also something that we loved from the very beginning of the script, because that’s what I loved about the film, because it immediately brought us to the moment, where the stakes are already high. Frank’s characters basically have to board the house, get it ready for everyone. I feel like those kinds of emotional stakes are set up so early that the audience is already on board.

Grillo: In the film, I really wasn’t a family guy. Do you know what I mean? I was a scientist and a soldier, and this is all kinds of fish out of water. Now. I take care of my brother’s child, my niece and my sister-in-law. It’s kind of me discovering myself as a man wrapped around this werewolf story.

Miller: Yes. Learning to take care of your family.

Steven, I wanted to ask you about this picture near the end of the movie. You get Frank shirtless in this movie. He looks insanely ripped, but he makes this superhero-like entrance where the lights flash off his abs. It’s funny.

Grillo: That’s the only time we used CGI (laughs).

Miller: No, no, that’s all Frank. That’s all Frank. Let me tell you, I think we had that shot planned from day one, to be completely honest. Even when he talked to Frank and told him we were going to do it, I think he was like, “Okay.” But Frank is offended. I mean, look at the guy. He looks amazing.

Grillo: I’m old and jacked.

That’s a good shot. It’s very funny out of context, but it definitely works in the movie.

Grillo: I applauded Brad Pitt leaning back. Yes.

Miller: He gave us the kickback from Fight Club.

Grillo: And we laughed about it. Obviously it’s in the movie and it’s a little out of context, but somehow it works because of what happens next.

Miller: I think emotionally, because of all the things that happen, you kind of go with it because you’ve also seen these werewolves that have big abs.

Grillo: They do. They have some really good abs. Werewolves are known for having large abs.

Miller: So you just say, “Of course Frank has amazing abs.”

Grillo: You know, I was single at the time. I had to find a girlfriend.

Frank, what really stood out about Steven’s approach to action? Because there are some really great scenes here. We see it in the trailer as well, but you get on that machine gun, you just mow these werewolves down.

Grillo: I have to tell you something, he is as good a director in this genre as anyone I have worked with. He really understands the genre. He knows how to handle his actors, he hires the right actors. I just hope we get to do more of these because there is more story to tell. I think I found my Scorsese in Steven Miller.

Miller: Oh, look man, I can only do my job as well as Frank does his, and Frank is one of those guys who shows up. He is a pro. He knows exactly what to do. He encourages everyone else around him. He kind of rallies the troops, and that’s what you need with your main character that you’re going to be fighting with for a few months. So I love that about Frank. I love that everyone loves being around Frank and for me it was an easy thing.

Grillo: Not my ex-wife (laughs).

Miller: I’m not his ex-wife. I love being with Frank, and he’s right. We want to have fun. We’re making a few more of these. It will be a good time.

Steven, you have also assembled a really good supporting cast around Frank. What was it like working with Lou Diamond Phillips? He’s given some good exposition here, and it’s tricky parts when dealing with scientific jargon, but he gets it done.

Miller: Yes. We were just talking about Lou and how he kind of brings a gravitas to the movie and also gives it a little bit of nostalgia that I love. He’s just one of those guys who is honestly so sweet. He’s just such a great guy.

Grillo: I mean, he’s Lou Diamond Phillips. He’s a legend, you know, and he gives this nostalgic feel to the film. Like if this had been made in the eighties he would have been the star.

Miller: Yes. He just brings something to the role that was different and it wasn’t that classic scientist. He had something else about him that I love.

Frank, it kind of reminded me of The Purge movies. There is a crazy night with a lot of violence.

Grillo: 12 hours this time. It’s a super moon and werewolves.

Did it hit you during filming?

Grillo: Yeah, I mean, that’s how I described the movie to everyone. I said, It’s The Purge meets werewolves.

Miller: Frank called me when he first read it and said, “Dude, this is The Purge.”

Grillo: I mean, it’s really The Purge, especially Anarchy. It reminded me a lot of just the structure of it reminded me of (the movie). Because it was originally called year two. We already knew what happened the year before, so I was like, “Wow, we have to work hard not to do this The Purge.”

Miller: That’s right. We did that. I think we did. In fact, there were a lot of little revisions we made to make sure it didn’t feel like that. But it was definitely an easy sell. When you say The Purge meets werewolves, that’s what it was.

Grillo: If there’s an audience out there that likes The Purge, they’ll love this.

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Thanks to Frank Grillo and Steven C. Miller for taking the time to talk about werewolves.

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